Foreign Ministry: US Proposal for Free Airspace Access Over Indonesia is Merely an American Suggestion

REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA – Indonesia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has emphasised that the official overflight clearance requested by the United States to allow its aircraft to traverse Indonesian airspace has not been granted at all. The request is still under intensive review. “There is no policy granting free access to foreign parties to use Indonesian airspace,” said RI Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Yvonne Mewengkang in Jakarta on Wednesday. Yvonne confirmed that the overflight clearance is a proposal from the US side, but it remains under internal consideration by the Indonesian Government. “The regulatory mechanism must still be carefully examined, placing national interests, Indonesia’s airspace sovereignty, and the principles of free and active foreign policy as the primary foundation,” she added. Yvonne stressed that every form of cooperation arrangement, including with the US, will continue to be within the framework of full Indonesian sovereignty and will remain compliant with applicable national mechanisms and procedures. Defence cooperation between Indonesia and the US focuses on strengthening a broader cooperation framework. “Overflight arrangements are not the main pillar in that cooperation,” said Yvonne.