Indonesian Navy Explains US Warship Passage through Malacca Strait

The Indonesian Navy (TNI AL) has confirmed the presence of a United States (US) warship passing through the Malacca Strait. TNI AL stated that the US ship was merely transiting.

“The passage is solely for the purpose of continuous, expeditious transit between one part of the high seas or exclusive economic zone and another part of the high seas or exclusive economic zone, as per Articles 37, 38, and 39 of the 1982 UNCLOS,” said the Head of Information, First Admiral Tunggul, when contacted on Sunday (19/4/2026).

Tunggul described the warship’s activity as lawful international navigation. He referred to the right of ships, including warships, to traverse those waters as the Right of Transit Passage or Transit Passage in straits used for international navigation.

“As we all know, Indonesia has ratified the 1982 UNCLOS through Law Number 17 of 1985 on the Ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea,” he explained.

“Therefore, all ships exercising the Right of Transit Passage in the Malacca Strait, which is an international navigation route, are obliged to respect Indonesia as the coastal state,” he stated.

Meanwhile, circulating issues claimed that the US would deploy its warship to hunt tankers in the Malacca Strait. Tunggul emphasised that foreign ships passing through must not violate regulations.

“In addition, while transiting, foreign ships must not violate provisions in accordance with COLREG 1972 on preventing collisions at sea and MARPOL on preventing pollution from ships,” he said.