RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta – The Indonesia’s Ministry of Defense highlighted that the circulating Draft of Letter of Intent (LoI) on overflight clearance is still an initial draft currently under internal and inter-institutions discussion. The Ministry made the statement in response to reports from several foreign media implying that a final agreement had been reached regarding U.S. military overflight access in Indonesian airspace.

In an official statement received by RRI VOI on Monday, April 13, 2026, the Head of Defense Information Bureau at the Secretariat General of the Ministry of Defense, Brigadier General TNI Rico Ricardo Sirait, stated that the document is not a final agreement, does not yet have legally binding force, and cannot be used as the basis for official policy of the Indonesian Government.

He said the Indonesia’s Ministry of Defense affirms that,“Any discussion of defense cooperation with other countries is always conducted within a framework which prioritizes national interests, fully safeguards the sovereignty of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia, and adheres to applicable national and international laws.”

In response to this, the Head of the Defense Information Bureau explained that before any proposal can be further considered in accordance with applicable mechanisms and authorities, and with input from all relevant stakeholders, any discourse, proposal, or draft mechanism for cooperation must undergo a careful, rigorous, and multi-layered review process.

Moreover, the Brigadier General TNI Rico Ricardo, stressed that authority, control, and supervision over Indonesia’s airspace remain fully under the sovereignty of Indonesia. He also stated that any potential arrangement will keep on guaranteeing Indonesia’s full authority to approve or reject any activity within its national airspace.

The Ministry also affirmed that any planned activities must comply with each country’s national laws. In Indonesia’s context, this means all processes must follow statutory regulations, institutional mechanisms, and national political decisions. There is no room for unilateral implementation outside Indonesian law.

Additionally, the Ministry urges the public to respond the information carefully and proportionally. Indonesia continuously upholds defense cooperation with all countries based on the principles of mutual respect, trust, and mutual benefit, without compromising national interests and state sovereignty.