Indonesia has received its first aircraft carrier, the former Italian Navy vessel ITS Giuseppe Garibaldi, which arrived at a naval base in Tanjung Priok, a seaport in North Jakarta. The 41-year-old ship, retired from the Italian Navy in 2024, was transferred to Indonesia in a deal meant to strengthen defense ties between Italy and the Southeast Asian nation. The vessel will be commissioned into the Indonesian Navy next week under the name KRI Gajah Mada, named after a 14th-century military leader from the Majapahit Empire. Indonesia will now be the second country in Southeast Asia to operate an aircraft carrier, following Thailand’s HTMS Chakri Naruebet, which entered service in 1997. President Prabowo Subianto has made defense development a central focus of his administration, pushing for military modernization through the acquisition of submarines, frigates, fighter jets, and missiles, as well as expanding defense cooperation. However, the purchase of the Garibaldi has sparked debate among defense analysts, economists, and opposition politicians. Critics question whether Indonesia truly needs an aircraft carrier and whether the government should spend millions of dollars to refurbish and operate an aging ship, especially with growing fiscal challenges. The Indonesian Finance Ministry approved $450 million in funding for the aircraft carrier program in 2025, but some lawmakers warn that the overall cost could be significantly higher. TB Hasanuddin, a member of Parliament’s Commission I, estimated that retrofitting the ship alone could cost up to 16 trillion rupiah (about $900 million). Indonesia plans to convert the Garibaldi into a mobile command center and support hub for helicopters, drones, and maritime operations. President Prabowo highlighted its potential use in disaster response, such as managing forest and peatland fires that produce hazardous haze in the region. The vessel will also serve as a mobile platform for rapid deployment during natural disasters, which are frequent in Indonesia due to its location on the Pacific "Ring of Fire." Experts have expressed concerns about the high cost of operating an aircraft carrier and whether Indonesia’s leadership has fully considered its necessity for defense or disaster-relief efforts. The acquisition comes as Indonesia faces increasing fiscal pressure, with the government funding social programs like a free nutritious meals initiative while economists warn of slowing economic growth, weaker state revenues, and tighter budget constraints. Muhammad Fauzan Malufti of the Center for Strategic and International Studies emphasized that the acquisition of the Garibaldi should be based on genuine operational needs and the ability to sustain its operation, rather than being driven by national pride or other non-strategic factors. He stressed the need for transparency regarding the costs of the vessel’s acquisition and modernization, as well as the Navy’s ability to maintain its operations, including personnel, maintenance, fuel, and infrastructure. He cited Thailand’s carrier as a cautionary example, noting that it has spent much of its service life in port due to budget and operational limitations. Military analyst Khairul Fahmi of the Institute for Security and Strategic Studies stated that aircraft carriers are not currently a top priority for Indonesia, which focuses on preventing adversaries from operating freely in its territorial waters. He argued that the country has a greater need for submarines, frigates, and asymmetric weapons systems to protect its maritime sovereignty. However, he added that if Indonesia aims to position itself as a major maritime power, an aircraft carrier could serve as both a symbol of national strength and a versatile platform for a wide range of military and non-military missions.