Defence Ministry States No Air Access for US Military in Cooperation Agreement with US
Defence Minister (Menhan) Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin and United States (US) Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth have agreed to establish a Major Defense Cooperation Partnership (MDCP) between the US and Indonesia. The Indonesian Defence Ministry has emphasised that the MDCP does not include any cooperation regarding access to Indonesian airspace for the US military.
“That (agreement on flight permissions for US aircraft) is not included in the MDCP,” said the Head of the Defence Information Bureau (Karo Infohan) of the Defence Ministry Secretariat General, Brigadier General TNI Rico Ricardo Sirait, quoted by Antara on Tuesday (14/4/2026).
The MDCP is a defence cooperation framework that was recently signed by Defence Minister Sjafrie and Hegseth at the Pentagon in Washington DC, United States, on Monday (13/4).
Rico stated that points of cooperation regarding permissions for US aircraft activities in Indonesian airspace are still under consideration by the Indonesian government. Rico said that in the process of considering the proposal, the Indonesian Defence Ministry prioritises Indonesia’s sovereignty, national interests, and compliance with applicable national and international law.
He also emphasised that every cooperation decision built by the Ministry of Defence and the United States must benefit Indonesia. Rico assured that public safety and national sovereignty are the government’s top priorities in determining steps for international cooperation.
“All forms of cooperation must still provide tangible benefits to Indonesia and must not diminish the basic principles of national sovereignty, national policy independence, and Indonesia’s position as a country that consistently implements a free and active foreign policy,” Rico said.
Rico outlined the contents of the agreed military collaboration between Indonesia and the United States, which include cooperation in developing defence technology capacity, improving operational readiness, professional military education, and strengthening interpersonal defence relations between the two countries.
“This cooperation is seen as an opportunity to strengthen national defence capacity, but it is still carried out within the framework of a free and active foreign policy, national interests, and full respect for national sovereignty,” he said.
It is known that there has been circulating information in a letter of agreement between Indonesia and the United States stating that the US has full freedom to cross Indonesian airspace.
(idn/imk)