Defence Minister Sjafrie Acknowledges US Once Requested Overflight Access Through Indonesian Airspace

Defence Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin revealed that the United States had once sought permission for unlimited military overflight rights to pass through Indonesian airspace. The request was conveyed directly by the United States Secretary of Defence, Pete Hegseth, at the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM) Plus forum in 2025. ‘I do not know the United States Secretary of Defence. Why? Because he is overly global; we are regional. But at that time, he asked for a bilateral and four-eyed meeting with me,’ Sjafrie told members of the House of Representatives Commission I at the Parliament Complex, Senayan, Central Jakarta, on Tuesday, 19 May 2026. In that meeting, Sjafrie said Hegseth requested unlimited flight access. However, Sjafrie did not immediately acquiesce to the request. According to Sjafrie, Hegseth should have sought permission directly from the President of Indonesia, Prabowo Subianto, to decide whether the flight access proposal could be accepted. ‘So I replied: ’Mr Minister, although there is hope, I will report to my President. Because he is the Supreme Commander of the Indonesian National Armed Forces,’ he said. Sjafrie emphasised that Indonesia has not approved an unlimited overflight agreement, as the government continues to guard its airspace. He stressed that the agreement would not be a promise or a legally binding commitment. ‘A mechanism and standing operating procedures are required if we agree. And we must be consistent with the laws of each country. This exists already; previously, during exercises, if someone is injured we would repatriate them,’ he said. ‘This is a Letter of Intent. Not a Letter of Commitment. So we are not making any commitments with the United States in terms of air rights. No. We defend the constitution and we safeguard our national interests,’ concluded Sjafrie.