The ITS Giuseppe Garibaldi (C551) leaves Portsmouth, UK, to take part in NATO naval exercises in February 2024. The carrier has been donated to Indonesia, which unveiled its new name, KRI Sriwijaya, this week. (Shutterstock/Kevin Shipp)

Another Asian Nation Now Has an Aircraft Carrier

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After months of speculation and planning, Indonesia has taken possession of the Italian Giuseppe Garibaldi carrier—and put it into service as the KRI Sriwijaya.

Indonesia took delivery of its second-hand aircraft carrier earlier this month, the former Marina Militare (Italian Navy) flagship ITS Giuseppe Garibaldi (C551)—named for the famed 19th-century Italian patriot, who contributed to the unification of Italy. The conventionally powered flattop was officially renamed at a ceremony on Thursday, with the Italian tricolor (green/white/red) flag lowered and the red-and-white flag of Indonesia raised. The vessel was recommissioned as the KRI Sriwijaya (100).

The carrier now honors the ancient Sriwijaya (also spelled the Srivijaya Empire), a powerful maritime kingdom that controlled much of the Indonesian archipelago and was the dominant sea power in Southeast Asia from the 7th to 13th centuries.

“The ship, which previously served in the Italian Navy, now bears the name KRI Sriwijaya, flying the red-and-white flag as a symbol of sovereignty and service to Indonesia,” Indonesian Navy spokesperson Tunggul (who uses one name) said in a statement to the Associated Press.

The KRI SriwijayaAircraft Carrier:........

© The National Interest