Konfrontasi began in December 1962, when Indonesian forces launched a series of raids on Malaysian territory in Borneo. Indonesian troops also infiltrated Sarawak and Sabah, where they supported communist guerrillas fighting for independence from Malaysia. The conflict escalated in 1963, when Indonesia began bombing Malaysian airfields and naval bases. In response, Malaysia and the United Kingdom launched a series of air strikes against Indonesian targets.
The conflict came to an end in 1966, following the overthrow of Sukarno and the rise of General Suharto to power in Indonesia. Suharto was more pragmatic than Sukarno and sought to improve relations with Malaysia. In August 1966, Indonesia and Malaysia signed an agreement to end hostilities and normalize relations.
Konfrontasi had a significant impact on the region. It resulted in the deaths of thousands of people and caused widespread damage to infrastructure. The conflict also strained relations between Indonesia and Malaysia, and it took many years for the two countries to fully normalize relations.
