{
    "success": true,
    "data": {
        "id": 1749444,
        "msgid": "ri-has-no-overflight-clearance-commitment-with-us-mod-sjamsoeddin-1779546152",
        "date": "2026-05-19 17:01:51",
        "title": "RI has no overflight clearance commitment with US, MoD Sjamsoeddin",
        "author": "",
        "source": "ANTARA_EN",
        "tags": "",
        "topic": "Politics",
        "summary": "Defence Minister Sjamsoeddin told Parliament that Indonesia's letter of intent with the United States, signed during an April visit, is non-binding and does not commit to overflight access. He stressed Indonesia will defend its constitution and sovereignty, noting any airspace arrangements would follow sovereign procedures and Presidential approval. The remarks come amid talks with US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and in the context of ongoing discussions about a broader defence partnership.",
        "content": "<p>During a meeting with Commission I of the House of Representatives at\nthe Parliament Complex here, he said the letter of intent, which he\nsigned during his US visit last April, was not a letter of\ncommitment.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis is merely a letter of intent, not a letter of commitment; which\nmeans that we have not sealed any commitments from the US on airspace.\nWe will defend the constitution and our national interest,\u201d Sjamsoeddin\nemphasized.<\/p>\n<p>He conveyed the remarks to clarify the overflight clearance issue\nfollowing the signing of Indonesia-US Major Defense Cooperation\nPartnership last April.<\/p>\n<p>Related news: Indonesia reviews US military overflight proposal<\/p>\n<p>The minister explained the letter of intent with the US recognized\nterritorial integrity and sovereignty and acknowledged standard\nprocedure prevailing in the respective countries.<\/p>\n<p>Sjamsoeddin continued his remarks by recalling the talks with the US\nDefense Secretary Pete Hegseth during the recent ASEAN Defense Ministers\nMeeting (ADMM) Plus last November.<\/p>\n<p>At that time, he said, Hegseth reaffirmed his support for Indonesia\u2019s\ndefense development and acknowledged Indonesia\u2019s focus on building its\ndefensive capability against potential attacks.<\/p>\n<p>The US minister then requested his Indonesian counterpart allow US\nmilitary planes to pass Indonesian airspace when necessary.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMinister, can we pass through Indonesian airspace if we need it for\nparticularly urgent reasons? We will follow any rules you issue anyway,\u201d\nSjamsoeddin quoted Hegseth as saying during the session.<\/p>\n<p>Related news: Indonesia considers US proposal for airspace overflight\naccess: FM<\/p>\n<p>Sjamsoeddin then explained to Hegseth that he needed to report to the\nIndonesian President Prabowo Subianto.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI then answered him, Mr.\u00a0Secretary, although there are hopes, I will\nfirst report to my president because he is the commander-in-chief of the\nIndonesian Defense Forces,\u201d Sjamsoeddin added, emphasizing that he did\nnot promptly answer Hegseth\u2019s request.<\/p>\n<p>The US side then followed up on the conversation by dispatching a\ndelegate to present the proposed overflight clearance to Sjamsoeddin\nlast February and an invitation to discuss it directly was also\nconveyed.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTo discuss, not to determine, as the team then deliberated the\nmatter. Finally, last month I visited the US to sign the letter of\nintent, not the letter of commitment,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n<p>Indonesia is not committed to providing overflight access to the\nUnited States out of respect to the constitution and national interest,\nSjamsoeddin stressed.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAnd in defense cooperation, we also recognized the principles of\nmutual benefit and mutual respect,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>Related news: Indonesia denies US airspace access under defense\npact<\/p>\n<p>Translator: Fath Putra Mulya, Nabil Ihsan<\/p>",
        "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ri-has-no-overflight-clearance-commitment-with-us-mod-sjamsoeddin-1779546152",
        "image": ""
    },
    "sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
    "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}