The multinational exercise is the largest annual international peacekeeping field training exercise in the world designed to promote global peace and security. About 70 U.S. personnel and 420 TNIs are participating, along with about 350 personnel from other countries. It is co-sponsored by USINDOPACOM and TNI and held on a rotational basis between the two countries.

At the opening event on July 18, Acting Deputy Chief of Mission Kyle Richardson thanked the Indonesian government, the Indonesian National Defense Forces and the Indonesian Peacekeeping Training Center for hosting the exercise this year, and thanked the participants.

“To the peacekeepers and peacekeeper trainers who have traveled from five continents, representing twenty-two countries, I thank you and your governments for your efforts to be here as we emerge from the global pandemic,” said declared A/DCM Richardson. “This exercise will better prepare peacekeepers for upcoming UN deployments and better prepare you to train your fellow peacekeepers.”

Garuda Canti Dharma 2022 consists of a UN Peacekeeping Operations Personnel Training Event, a Field Training Event and a Critical Enabling Capacity Building Event at the PMPP, all of which will focus on UN Operations and international peacekeeping and stability.

This year, the TNI has invited service members from Argentina, Australia, Bangladesh, Canada, Fiji, Japan, Malaysia, Nepal, New Zealand, the Philippines, South Africa, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam to participate.

During the exercise, forces from Indonesia, the United States and other partner nations will strive to improve interoperability and mission effectiveness in common tactics, techniques and procedures in accordance with United Nations doctrine in the purpose of improving the performance of United Nations peacekeeping troops and regional peace operations.