Indonesia Receives Former Italian Warship as First Aircraft Carrier

Indonesia has commissioned its first aircraft carrier, a 41‑year‑old former Italian warship, at a naval base in North Jakarta’s Tanjung Priok port. The vessel, capable of short‑takeoff and vertical‑landing aircraft and helicopters, was welcomed with a military ceremony on Friday. Jakarta’s government says the carrier will enhance the archipelagic nation’s maritime security and disaster‑response capabilities. However, defence analysts and opposition politicians have raised questions about the true cost of the acquisition and its strategic purpose. The ship’s arrival marks a significant expansion of Indonesia’s naval assets, potentially increasing its ability to project power across the region and support humanitarian operations.