Indonesia’s Acquisition of the Giuseppe Garibaldi: A Symbol of Power or a Costly Relic?
Indonesia is set to acquire its first aircraft carrier, the Giuseppe Garibaldi, by Armed Forces Day on October 5. This move will make Indonesia only the second country in Southeast Asia, after Thailand, to operate such a vessel. However, the acquisition raises questions about its actual impact on Indonesia’s maritime power and strategic capabilities.
The Giuseppe Garibaldi, an Italian-built flat-top warship, was commissioned in 1985 and served with the Italian navy for over three decades. It was equipped with AV-8B Harrier II short-take-off-and-vertical-landing (STOVL) fighter aircraft and anti-submarine warfare helicopters. The ship saw action in several conflicts, including Kosovo, Afghanistan, and Libya, as well as participating in humanitarian and disaster relief (HADR) operations before being decommissioned in 2024.
In 2025, the Italian government agreed to transfer the vessel to Indonesia, marking a significant step in President Prabowo Subianto’s vision to modernize the Indonesian military. However, this decision has drawn skepticism from defense analysts, who question the practical value of acquiring a second-hand carrier.
Criticisms of the Acquisition
The acquisition faces criticism on three main fronts: age, cost, and operational value.
1. Age and Refurbishment Challenges
The Giuseppe Garibaldi is over 39 years old, having been decommissioned in 2024. Despite upgrades in 2003 and 2013, the ship was essentially ready for the scrapyard. Upon arrival in Indonesia, it will require extensive refitting, which could take several years. Even after this process, the ship is expected to have a lifespan of only five to 10 more years, which conflicts with the Indonesian navy’s policy of retiring vessels older than 30 years.
2. High Costs
Although Italy is transferring the carrier for a nominal fee of $60 million, the total cost of refurbishing and equipping the vessel with new armaments, engines, radars, and helicopters is projected to reach nearly $1 billion. Some of these costs may be offset by an Italian grant. For context, Indonesia’s entire naval budget in 2025 was $1.5 billion, making the acquisition a significant financial burden.
Annual operating costs could range between $50 million and $80 million per year, potentially diverting funds from other critical naval projects, such as patrol boats, corvettes, and frigates that are essential for patrolling Indonesia’s vast archipelago.
3. Operational Value and Strategic Limitations
The Indonesian government emphasizes that the carrier will not be used for offensive purposes but rather for HADR missions. A defense ministry spokesperson stated, “There is no intention on the part of our nation … to be aggressive by owning an aircraft carrier like this … there is no invasive intent.”
However, even if Indonesia wished to use the carrier for power projection, it lacks the operational experience, integrated naval platforms, and fast jets required to do so effectively. Integrating the Garibaldi into a carrier strike group would be a formidable challenge, especially without strong escort protection.
Additionally, the Harrier jump jet, which the carrier was originally designed to carry, is being phased out by most operators in favor of advanced aircraft like the F-35B. Indonesia has attempted to procure F-35s, but Washington has rejected these requests. Other options, such as China’s J-35 or France’s Rafale, require catapult systems that the Garibaldi does not have. As a result, the best option may be to equip the carrier with anti-submarine helicopters and surveillance drones.
Limited Role in Humanitarian Missions
While carriers can be deployed for HADR missions, they are not optimized for this role. Carrier-based helicopters can transport aid, but carriers lack well decks—internal compartments used to launch landing craft loaded with supplies and personnel. Indonesia’s hospital ships, based on the Makassar-class amphibious landing ship, are better suited for this task and have already participated in HADR operations in Gaza.
Regional and Historical Context
The regional response to Indonesia’s acquisition has been muted, as the Garibaldi is unlikely to alter the balance of power in Southeast Asia. No other countries in the region are expected to follow suit. Critics have pointed to Thailand’s HTMS Chakri Naruebet as a cautionary example. Delivered in 1997, the helicopter carrier has rarely put to sea due to high operating costs and limited budgets, despite conducting HADR missions as recently as November 2025.
Historically, Indonesia’s experience with second-hand vessels has also been mixed. In 1993, the country acquired over 40 East German warships for a nominal fee, but the high costs of refurbishment and operation drained the defense budget. These ships spent most of their lives in port before being scrapped.
Why Acquire the Garibaldi?
Despite these challenges, President Prabowo sees the acquisition as a symbolic gesture. Aircraft carriers are powerful symbols of national power, and only a handful of major maritime nations operate them. Even as a Cold War relic, the Garibaldi offers Indonesia a place among this exclusive group.
Ian Storey, Senior Fellow at ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute, highlights the geopolitical significance of such acquisitions. His insights were originally published by the institute’s commentary website, fulcrum.sg.
