Australia and Indonesia will deepen their humanitarian and disaster response cooperation this October through Exercise Bhakti Kanyini AusIndo.
“This Exercise is a testament to the strength of our regional partnerships and our shared commitment to humanitarian assistance," Chief of Joint Operations, Vice Admiral Justin Jones, said.
“Working alongside our Indonesian and international colleagues ensures we are better prepared to respond to crises across the Indo-Pacific."
This multinational training exercise has aimed to enhance regional preparedness and resilience in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations.
“Our teams are learning from each other and strengthening the bonds that underpin regional stability," Vice Admiral Jones stated.
Exercise Bhakti Kanyini AusIndo will bring together military and civilian emergency management agencies from both countries, along with international partners, including Timor-Leste and the United States.
The Exercise will be conducted in two phases; an academic and tabletop activity in Jakarta, followed by a field training exercise in Bayah, located in Banten Province of Southern Java.
Approximately forty Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel will participate in the Exercise. These include construction engineers, water purification experts, health and logistics specialists, and civil-military affairs officers.
Civilian agencies, including Indonesia’s National Agency for Disaster Management Badan Nasional Penanggulangan Bencana, Indonesia’s National Search and Rescue Agency Badan Nasional Pencarian Dan Pertolongan, Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Australian Civil-Military Centre and Disaster Assistance Response Team will also take part.
Earlier this year, Indonesia also participated alongside Australia in Exercise Talisman Sabre 2025. In July 2025, the country also signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) with Babcock International in which the defence company ramped up its support to Indonesia’s defence and maritime industry.
“Enhancing Indonesia’s naval strength, advancing its defence industry, and creating high-value jobs and skills are at the heart of this collaboration," Babcock Managing Director Business Growth and AUKUS, Mark Goldsack, said at the time.