Foreign Ministry: No Unrestricted Airspace Access for US

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - The Indonesian government has emphasized that there is no policy granting unrestricted access to foreign parties to use the country’s airspace. The statement came in response to reports claiming that Indonesia and the United States had agreed on a “Blanket Overflight Clearence” arrangement that would allow US military aircraft to pass through Indonesian airspace.

“All forms of cooperation must provide tangible benefits for Indonesia and must not undermine the fundamental principles of state sovereignty, national policy independence, as well as Indonesia’s position as a country that consistently upholds an independent and active foreign policy,” Indonesian Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Yvonne Mewengkang, said in a statement on Wednesday, April 15, 2026.

She also said the arrangement on blanket overflight access is not a main pillar of Indonesia-US defense cooperation. She noted that bilateral defense cooperation is focused on strengthening a broader cooperation framework.

“All forms of cooperation must provide tangible benefits for Indonesia and must not reduce the fundamental principles of state sovereignty, national policy independence, and Indonesia’s position as a country that consistently implements an independent and active foreign policy,” she reiterated.

Yvonne also stressed that input and views exchanged among ministries and government agencies are a normal part of the national policymaking process. Any proposal still under discussion, she said, will be processed carefully and in a measured manner in accordance with official government mechanisms.

“The government is also paying close attention to the current global geopolitical dynamics so that any steps taken will not create implications for regional stability,” Yvonne said.

Previously, the Indonesia's Ministry of Defense highlighted that the circulating draft Letter of Intent (LoI) on overflight clearance remains an initial document currently under internal and inter-agency discussion. In an official statement received by RRI Voice of Indonesia on Monday, Head of the Defense Information Bureau at the Ministry’s Secretariat General, Rico Ricardo Sirait, said the document is not a final agreement, has no legally binding force, and cannot be used as a basis for official government policy.

He emphasized that any discussion of defense cooperation with other countries is conducted within a framework that prioritizes national interests, fully safeguards Indonesia’s sovereignty, and adheres to applicable national and international laws.