Indonesia Says No Final Deal Yet On US Military Aircraft Overflights In Its Airspace
JAKARTA, April 13 (Bernama) -- Indonesia stressed that a draft Letter of Intent (LoI) on overflight clearance for United States (US) military aircraft over its airspace remains at an early stage, is non-binding, and does not constitute a final agreement, amid foreign media reports suggesting otherwise.
Indonesia’s Defence Ministry, in a statement on Monday, said the document currently circulating is an initial draft that remains under internal and inter-agency discussion and cannot be used as a basis for official policy of the Indonesian government.
The ministry emphasised that any discussion on defence cooperation with other countries is conducted within a framework that prioritises national interests, fully safeguards Indonesia’s sovereignty, and adheres to applicable national and international law.
“Any discourse, proposal, or draft cooperation mechanism must go through a careful, rigorous, and multi-layered deliberation process before it can be further considered in accordance with prevailing mechanisms and authorities, while also taking into account all relevant stakeholders,” it said.
The ministry emphasised that authority, control, and oversight over Indonesian airspace are entirely under the Indonesian government, and that any possible arrangement would guarantee Indonesia’s full authority to approve or reject any activity within its national airspace.
It also stressed that any planned activities must follow laws and regulations, institutional mechanisms, and state political decisions, adding that “there is no room for unilateral implementation outside Indonesian law.”
“The Ministry of Defence urges the public to respond to information carefully and proportionately. Indonesia continues to uphold defence cooperation with all countries based on the principles of mutual respect, mutual trust, and mutual benefit, without compromising national interests and state sovereignty,” it said.
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth is scheduled to meet Indonesian Defence Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin at the Pentagon later on Monday, according to advisory from the US Department of War.
-- BERNAMA
