Chief of Staff of the Indonesian Navy Admiral Muhammad Ali confirmed that the navy is planning to acquire Giuseppe Garibaldi, an aircraft carrier that once served as the flagship of the Italian Navy.
The acquisition discussions are currently taking place at the "state-level" between the Indonesian and Italian governments, with no formal decision made yet to proceed with the procurement.
Admiral Ali stated the ship would primarily focus on non-war military operations, though it may also be deployed for other combat-related missions.
The potential acquisition of the Giuseppe Garibaldi would mark a historic milestone for Indonesia, possibly making it the first Southeast Asian nation to operate an aircraft carrier.
The Giuseppe Garibaldi was retired by the Italian Navy in 2024 and replaced by the LHD Trieste, with Indonesia expressing interest in acquiring the vessel along with its airwing capabilities.
