Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia - The United States\u2019 request for military\noverflight permission in Indonesia must be handled with caution, as it\nraises concerns about Indonesia\u2019s foreign policy position, which has\nlong upheld the principle of being free and active.<\/p>\n
Professor of International Law at the University of Indonesia (UI),\nHikmahanto Juwana, revealed that information is currently circulating\nregarding a request from the US Department of War to the Indonesian\nMinistry of Defence for blanket overflight clearance, although it has\nnot yet been approved by the Indonesian side.<\/p>\n
According to Hikmahanto, blanket overflight clearance is the right of\noverflight for state aircraft, including military aircraft, to cross the\nairspace of a country without landing. He explained that under\ninternational law, a country\u2019s airspace sovereignty is absolute.<\/p>\n
\u201cAccording to Article 1 of the Chicago Convention, the airspace of a\ncountry is complete and exclusive. Thus, every foreign aircraft must\nobtain permission if it wishes to cross a country\u2019s airspace,\u201d he stated\nin his comments on Selsaa (14\/4\/2026).<\/p>\n
However, there is an exception for scheduled commercial aircraft\nregulated under the International Air Service Transit Agreement (IASTA).\nThis agreement allows civil aircraft to cross the airspace of other\ncountries without needing special permission each time they fly, as it\nhas been agreed multilaterally by around 135 countries.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor scheduled aircraft, there is an international agreement called\nthe International Air Service Transit Agreement (IASTA) which includes\nagreement to cross the airspace of other countries not for commercial\npurposes,\u201d he clarified.<\/p>\n
Nevertheless, this provision does not apply to state aircraft,\nincluding military aircraft or private aircraft. Hikmahanto emphasised\nthat for military aircraft, permission must be granted specifically each\ntime they cross, unless the country being crossed provides prior\nagreement for a certain period.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor military aircraft, each time they are to cross, each aircraft\nmust receive approval, unless the country being crossed gives prior\napproval for a certain period. This is what is called blanket overflight\nclearance,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
If such permission is granted, the receiving country will provide\nbroad overflight access without distinguishing between aircraft types or\nflight purposes, as long as it is within the agreed period.<\/p>\n
Hikmahanto warned that granting such permission in the current global\nsituation could lead to serious political implications. He assessed that\nsuch a step could be seen as Indonesia favouring the US.<\/p>\n
Furthermore, he believes Iran could view this policy as indirect\nsupport from Indonesia for US military operations. This is considering\nthe possibility that US military aircraft from various bases in the\nAsia-Pacific region and Australia would need to cross Indonesian\nairspace to join US forces in the Middle East.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn the current geopolitical situation, Iran will consider Indonesia\nas giving space to the US to carry out attacks on Iran,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
He added that Indonesia\u2019s air route could potentially become a\nstrategic path for US military movements towards conflict areas, so\ndecisions regarding overflight permission must be considered\ncarefully.<\/p>\n
\u201cIndonesia should not grant blanket overflight clearance to the US,\u201d\nhe concluded.<\/p>\n
Previously, the Indonesian Ministry of Defence stated that the\ncurrently circulating document is an initial draft still in the internal\nand inter-agency discussion stage. The document is not a final agreement\nand does not yet have binding legal force.<\/p>\n
The Ministry of Defence emphasised that every discussion of defence\ncooperation with other countries is always carried out within the\nframework of prioritising national interests, fully safeguarding the\nsovereignty of the Unitary Republic of Indonesia, and guided by\napplicable national and international law provisions.<\/p>\n
In connection with this, the Ministry of Defence added, every\ndiscourse, proposal, or draft mechanism for cooperation must go through\na careful, strict, and multi-layered discussion process before it can be\nconsidered further in accordance with applicable mechanisms and\nauthorities, as well as considerations from all related\nstakeholders.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Indonesia affirms that\nauthority, control, and supervision over Indonesian airspace are fully\nunder the Indonesian state. Any possible arrangements still guarantee\nIndonesia\u2019s full authority to approve or reject any activities in\nnational airspace,\u201d the Ministry of Defence said in a written statement\non Monday (13\/4\/2026).<\/p>\n
The Ministry of Defence also emphasised that every planned activity\nmust comply with each country\u2019s national law. In the Indonesian context,\nthis means the entire process must follow statutory regulations,\ninstitutional mechanisms, and national political decisions. There is no\nroom for unilateral implementation outside Indonesian law.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/us-militarys-request-for-access-to-indonesian-airspace-causes-uproar-ui-professors-response-1776178247", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }