A contingent of 30 Australian Defence Force and Defence civilian members have deployed to Indonesia for Exercise Trident Resolve from 21 to 25 September 2026.
Conducted under the Association of Southeast Nations (ASEAN) Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus (ADMM-Plus) framework, the exercise will share experience and best practice in response to a humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) operation.
Exercise Trident Resolve will take place in the Banten province in western Java, bringing together representatives from the 11 ASEAN member states and the eight ASEAN ‘Plus’ nations (including Australia), and five observer nations.
The exercise incorporates three Experts Working Groups (EWGs) on HADR, military medicine, and cybersecurity, with Australia co-chairing the cybersecurity EWG.
Commander Joint Operations, Vice Admiral Justin Jones AO, CSC, said Defence support reinforces the importance Australia places on ASEAN’s role within Southeast Asia and the wider region.
“In Australia and further abroad, humanitarian crisis including climate events have devastating impacts to communities, and bring with them significant implications for the security and prosperity of our region,” Vice Admiral Jones said.
“Exercise Trident Resolve ensures Australia and our regional partners are better prepared to respond to crises, and have the ability to seamlessly operate together in complex and contested environments, including those created by natural disasters and regional instability.
“The relationships and interoperability developed through exercises such as Trident Resolve strengthen our collective ability to respond rapidly to crises, sustain operations, and deliver effects in support of regional security.”
As co-chair of the EWG on cybersecurity alongside Cambodia, Australia will play a lead role in showing how cybersecurity effectively integrates into a HADR response.
Air Commodore Michael Reidy AM will lead the Australian contingent at Exercise Trident Resolve, as co-chair of the EWG for cybersecurity.
“HADR events – whether it’s in a remote community or in major population centres – can create significant stresses on cyber infrastructure,” Air Commodore Reidy said.
“Cybersecurity during HADR operations is essential not only for coordinating our own response and recovery efforts, but also ensuring the wellbeing of a population that we’re assisting.
“Protecting digital networks and critical systems during crises also strengthens the resilience of military operations and ensures commanders can make timely and informed decisions in rapidly evolving situations.”
Exercise Trident Resolve is the first time three ADMM-Plus EWGs have combined for one capstone activity, showing the ambition and maturity of the ADMM-Plus group.
ASEAN was established in August 1967, and Australia became the inaugural ASEAN Dialogue Partner in 1974. Australia recognises ASEAN centrality as key to the region’s stability and security, and we are committed to supporting ASEAN’s leadership.
