Indonesia Welcomes Former Italian Aircraft Carrier Giuseppe Garibaldi

The Giuseppe Garibaldi, a former Italian Navy aircraft carrier, arrived in Jakarta on September 18 after a three-week voyage from Italy, marking a significant expansion of Indonesia's naval capabilities. The ship docked at Tanjung Priok port in North Jakarta with a ceremonial reception led by Indonesian Defense Minister Safri Samsudin, Armed Forces Commander Agus Subiyanto, Navy Commander Muhammad Ali, Army Commander Maruli Simanjuntak, and Air Force Commander Mohammad Toni Harjono.

Admiral Muhammad Ali told reporters after inspecting the vessel that the ship arrived safely and in good condition, with no issues encountered during the journey. He expressed hope that the carrier would serve the Indonesian Navy for another 15 to 20 years. The admiral also announced the ship will be renamed KRI Sriwijaya, after the ancient maritime empire that once controlled much of Sumatra, Java, and the Malay Peninsula during its peak in the 9th century. The official commissioning ceremony will take place on September 24.

The Giuseppe Garibaldi measures approximately 180 meters in length and 33 meters in width, powered by four gas turbine engines producing roughly 81,000 horsepower combined. The vessel can reach a maximum speed of 30 knots and has a cruising range of 7,000 nautical miles at a standard cruising speed of 20 knots.

The ship entered service in 1987 and served the Italian Navy until 2024, when the Italian government transferred it to Indonesia as military aid valued at over 54 million euros, equivalent to approximately 2.07 billion baht. Indonesia's Defense Ministry has allocated 7.2 trillion rupiah—approximately 13.523 billion baht—to modernize the carrier, which will be deployed primarily for non-combat military operations including disaster relief and humanitarian missions.