Indonesia gets its first aircraft carrier amid debate over cost and military ambitions

<p>The gift from Italy has sparked fierce debate among defence analysts and opposition politicians who question its true cost and purpose</p><p>Indonesia has received its first aircraft carrier, a former Italian warship that the government says will strengthen the archipelagic nation’s maritime security and disaster response capabilities.</p><p>The 41-year-old former ITS Giuseppe Garibaldi, with capacity for short takeoff and vertical landing aircraft and helicopters, arrived Friday morning at a naval base in North Jakarta’s Tanjung Priok port, where it was welcomed with a military ceremony.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/sep/18/indonesia-first-aircraft-carrier-italy-warship-its-giuseppe-garibaldi">Continue reading...</a>