Indonesia Reaffirms No Airspace Commitment in Talks with U.S.

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesian Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin has emphasized that Jakarta has not made any binding commitment regarding U.S. access to Indonesian airspace, underscoring that national sovereignty and constitutional principles remain the government’s priority.

Speaking at a working meeting with Commission I of the House of Representatives in Jakarta on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, Minister Sjafrie clarified that he signed a Letter of Intent on Overflight Clearance in April, not a commitment agreement.

“This is a letter of intent, not a letter of commitment. We are not making any commitments with the U.S. on airspace. We uphold our constitution and safeguard our national interests,” he said.

The document, he explained, outlines respect for territorial integrity and requires mechanisms and standard operating procedures consistent with each country’s laws.

Minister Sjafrie recounted that the request for overflight access was first raised by U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth during a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the ASEAN Defense Ministers Meeting (ADMM) Plus in 2025.

At that meeting, Hegseth expressed support for Indonesia’s defense development, acknowledging its non-offensive posture. He then asked whether the U.S. could be permitted to cross Indonesian airspace in urgent situations, pledging to follow Indonesia’s regulations.

Sjafrie said he did not give an immediate answer, noting that such matters must be reported to the President as commander-in-chief of the Indonesian Armed Forces.

Hegseth also requested Indonesia’s assistance in locating and repatriating the remains of U.S. soldiers who died during World War II in Morotai, North Maluku. In February 2026, his team delivered a formal proposal and invited Sjafrie to the U.S. for further discussions.

The April meeting resulted in the signing of the letter of intent, which Minister Sjafrie stressed was exploratory rather than binding.

He reiterated that the Defense Ministry has not granted airspace clearance commitments to Washington, stressing that cooperation must rest on mutual respect and mutual benefit.

His remarks aimed to dispel public speculation following the signing of the Major Defense Cooperation Partnership (MDCP) between Indonesia and the U.S. last month. ***