Indonesia to join Aussie war games

Indonesia to join Aussie war games

SYDNEY (Reuter): Australia said yesterday that troops from
neighboring Indonesia would take part in a joint military
exercise this year in northern Australia, further cementing
defense ties.

Indonesia has never taken part in the joint exercise, held
every three years since the mid-1970s, a spokesman for Defense
Minister Robert Ray said.

The war games will also involve forces from the United States,
Britain, Malaysia, Singapore and Papua New Guinea and will mimic
a low-level incursion into Australia's vast, sparsely populated
northern region, the spokesman said.

Indonesia's decision to accept Australia's invitation to send
troops to the Kangaroo '95 exercise, likely to be held in August,
follows the Australian government's release of an important
defense discussion paper in December.