Defence Minister says Indonesia has not made any airspace overflight commitments with the United States
Defence Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin said Indonesia has not made any commitments regarding airspace access with the United States (US). Speaking to the House of Representatives’ Commission I in the parliamentary complex at Senayan, Jakarta, on Tuesday, the minister said he signed a Letter of Intent for Overflight Clearance, not a letter of commitment.
“This is a letter of intent, not a letter of commitment. So, we have not made any commitments with the US in terms of airspace,” he said. “We uphold the constitution and we uphold our national interests.”
Sjafrie said the letter of intent was signed in the US in April.
“The letter of intent firstly respects the integrity and sovereignty of the territory. Secondly, a mechanism and standing operating procedures are needed if we agree and are consistent with the laws of each country. This exists; in training, if someone is injured we will return them,” he said.
In front of defence-focused lawmakers, Sjafrie recounted that the request related to crossing Indonesia’s airspace was conveyed by US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth in a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM) Plus 2025.
According to Sjafrie, initially in that meeting, Hegseth expressed support for Indonesia’s defence capability development. Hegseth is said to understand that Indonesia does not seek to be offensive, but only to defend itself if attacked.
Then, he continued, Hegseth conveyed a request for the US to be allowed to cross Indonesian airspace if there were urgent needs.
“He told me, in four eyes, ‘Mr Defence Minister, is it possible,’ which I regard as ethical, ‘could the United States cross Indonesia’s airspace?’ (That was) in 2025. ‘Could it cross Indonesia’s airspace if we wish to cross for certain urgent needs? However, we will follow the rules you issue.’ This was spoken verbally to me,” Sjafrie said.
The Defence Minister did not immediately answer the US Defence Secretary’s request.
“I replied, ‘Mr Minister, even if there is hope, I will report to my President because he is the commander-in-chief of the Indonesian National Armed Forces,’” he said.
In the same meeting, Sjafrie noted the US Defence Secretary also asked Indonesia for help locating and repatriating the remains of US soldiers who died during World War II on Morotai Island, North Maluku.
In February 2026, Hegseth sent a subordinate to meet with Sjafrie and bring a proposal letter regarding permission to cross Indonesian airspace. Hegseth also invited Sjafrie to the US to discuss the proposal.
“To discuss, not to decide. Then, the team discussed it. Eventually, last month I went to the US and we signed a letter of intent, not a commitment,” he said.
He added that the Indonesian Ministry of Defence does not make commitments on airspace overflight with the US. He emphasised that they are committed to upholding the constitution and national interests.
“And in defence cooperation, we have the principles of mutual benefit and mutual respect,” he said.
Sjafrie said this to clarify the confusion around airspace overflight permissions that had circulated in the public following the Major Defense Cooperation Partnership (MDCP) agreement between RI and the US being signed in April 2026.