On Friday, North Jakarta's Tanjung Priok naval port hosted a welcoming ceremony for a major arrival: Indonesia’s first-ever aircraft carrier. It isn't a fresh-off-the-yard vessel, though. It's a 41-year-old decommissioned warship handed over from Italy, formerly known as the Giuseppe Garibaldi, which spent its earlier years in Europe carrying helicopters and vertical-takeoff jets.
Local media reported that Italy agreed back in March to pass the ship—which officially retired in 2024—over to Indonesia. The deal works out well for both sides. For Rome, it’s a chance to build tighter ties with Jakarta and pave the way for future submarine and aircraft sales, all while saving a bundle on scrapping costs. For Indonesia, the government gets a heavy-duty asset to patrol its vast archipelagic waters and act as a floating rescue base during natural disasters.
Indonesian Navy Chief Muhammad Ali told reporters that the ship will mostly be used for routine, non-combat missions, though it can step up for combat duty if the need arises. Military officials estimate the carrier can still serve another 15 to 20 years and squeeze in 14 or more helicopters. The move has sparked plenty of talk locally, as taking in the old warship makes Indonesia only the second country in Southeast Asia, after Thailand, to own an aircraft carrier.
