Indonesia, Singapore Guarantee Free, Safe Passage on Malacca Strait

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesia and Singapore have guaranteed the Strait of Malacca “open, safe, and accessible to all”. It was agreed as Indonesia’s President Prabowo Subianto received Singapore’s Prime Minister Lawrence Wong at the Merdeka Palace in Jakarta on Monday, July 6, 2026.

Prabowo said security and peace are the vital interests of the countries surrounding the Strait of Malacca. Noting Indonesia and Singapore directly border the Strait of Malacca, he saw both countries have a common interest in maintaining the free passage on the body of water.

"We must preserve security and peace in the strait, as well as, of course, protection from pollution, from accidents, and also from robbery or piracy," he said.

Prabowo said both Indonesia and Singapore will continue coordinating with other countries to ensure the safe shipping lane within the strait. According to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) enacted in 1982, the Strait of Malacca is allowed for international navigation, with the freedom of navigation and flight, while the sovereignty of the respective countries remains unchanged.

"We will continue to coordinate with Malaysia and Thailand to ensure that, in accordance with UNCLOS 1982, the Strait of Malacca will always remain open to all, safe, and accessible to anyone who requires access," Prabowo said.

PM Wong said they discussed, among others, developments in the Middle East and their implications for the Strait of Malacca. He said both Singapore and Indonesia are "strategically aligned" as they share a border over the strait.

"We both share interests in upholding navigational rights and freedoms and keeping sea lines of communications open to all, including the unimpeded right of transit passage of vessels in accordance with UNCLOS, which is also customary international law," Wong said.

"So, both President Prabowo and I agreed that we will do our part, together with the other littoral states, to ensure that the Straits of Malacca and the Straits of Singapore remain safe, open, and accessible to all," he added.

The over 900 kilometer-long Strait of Malacca lies between Sumatra’s northeast coast in Indonesia and three other countries, connecting the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is one of the world’s most important shipping lanes, with up to 30% of the global maritime trade passing through the strait.