Exercise Trident Resolve 2026 brings 2,200 military personnel and civilian officials from 19 countries to Banten, Indonesia, for the largest exercise under the ADMM-Plus framework in a decade in terms of personnel numbers. Running from September 20 to 26, 2026, the multinational drills test cross-border disaster relief, military medicine, and cybersecurity across seven sites and at sea.
Exercise Trident Resolve Scope and Participants
The exercise unites all 11 ASEAN member states alongside eight dialogue partners: Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, Russia, South Korea, and the United States. According to the Banten provincial government, the drill scenario simulates a major earthquake, an eruption of the Anak Krakatau volcano, and a subsequent tsunami along the Sunda Strait.
Banten Governor Andra Soni stated that the participation of 19 countries highlights the regional relevance of emergency disaster response, military medicine, and cyber threat management. Duarte, inspector-general of Indonesia’s Defence Ministry, described the deployment as an important milestone for practical cooperation.
Scale Compared to Prior Drills
Exercise Trident Resolve is the largest exercise under the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus) framework since 2016, when Singapore and Brunei hosted a maritime security and counter-terrorism drill involving about 3,500 personnel from 18 countries, 18 naval vessels, and 25 aircraft.
Breaking from past models, Trident Resolve stands out as the initial ADMM-Plus combined field-training event to unite three specific Experts’ Working Groups: cyber security, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR), and military medicine. Troops involved are carrying out practical field drills and tabletop exercises that focus on infrastructure repair, epidemic prevention, emergency medical treatment, alongside rubble search and rescue.
Maritime and Cyber Coordination
Singapore deployed its landing ship tank RSS Endeavour, equipped with surgical capabilities inside a Rapidly Deployable Maritime Container, to operate alongside Indonesia’s hospital ship KRI dr. Soeharso. Both vessels supplement shore-based medical facilities to treat simulated casualties.
For multinational coordination, Singapore utilizes the Changi Regional Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief Coordination Centre (RHCC) and its OPERA Computer Information System. The system aggregates data from national disaster authorities and shares it via a web portal to give responders a common operating picture of field needs and relief supplies.
The ADMM-Plus Experts’ Working Group on Cyber Security is also conducting its first field-training exercise. Participants are practicing methods to protect information systems and maintain data integrity against disruption during complex multinational disaster responses.
Regional Security and Strategic Cooperation
China’s Ministry of National Defense stated that its participation reflects Beijing’s commitment to international responsibilities and regional security through practical cooperation rather than bloc confrontation. Chinese military affairs expert Zhang Junshe noted that the exercises deepen China-ASEAN military mutual trust and institutionalize crisis-management channels for search and rescue and medical assistance.
The drills operate strictly under the ADMM-Plus framework, providing an established diplomatic and defense platform for ASEAN and its dialogue partners to maintain operational readiness and regional stability.
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