The aircraft carrier Giuseppe Garibaldi (C 551) arrived at the port of Java in Indonesia on September 17, 2026. This ship, which has been transferred free of charge from Italy to Indonesia, is set to be used as the country's first aircraft carrier and only the second in the Southeast Asian naval fleet.
History and Purpose of the Ship
The Giuseppe Garibaldi, measuring 180 meters in length, has been transferred to Indonesia after four decades of service in Italy. This ship is intended to serve as a mobile naval base for helicopters and drones, especially in relief operations and combating forest fires. Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has emphasized that this ship can be used as a tool for aiding areas affected by natural disasters, including the recent fires in the Kalimantan region.
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Costs and Challenges
Although the cost of transferring the ship has incurred no payments, converting it into an effective operational tool may cost Indonesia hundreds of millions of dollars. According to reports, the costs for upgrading and modernizing the ship could reach around 900 million dollars. Currently, the Indonesian government has a plan to finance this project through foreign loans of up to 450 million dollars.
The Giuseppe Garibaldi has been transferred to Asia without offensive capabilities, retaining only its safety and navigation systems. This clearly indicates the challenges ahead in converting this ship into an effective operational tool in Indonesia's geographical and climatic conditions. Indonesian Navy officials have stated that the ship will be moved to Kalimantan after the welcoming ceremony, but the exact timing for the modifications and final costs is still unclear.
For Indonesia, this transfer represents an important symbol of military modernization, although financial and operational challenges may hinder the effective use of this ship. Analysts suggest that using ships for relief operations in the region, while unusual, could serve as a complementary solution.
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