Indonesia's Foreign Ministry Assures Malacca Strait Remains Open, Safe, and Stable

Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia (Kemlu RI), Yvonne Mewengkang, has assured that the Malacca Strait remains open, safe, and stable for shipping routes. Indonesia will coordinate with relevant countries based on the 1982 UNCLOS international law to ensure this. “And by paying attention to coordination with relevant countries to maintain regional stability and ensure that global shipping routes remain safe, open, and stable,” said Yvonne, quoted from Kompas.com on Saturday (25/4/2026). The Indonesian government will follow what is in international maritime law under the UN flag. The Malacca Strait is a highly important global shipping route for world trade. “All policies taken by the Indonesian Government regarding international shipping routes, including in the Malacca Strait, will always be in line with international law, particularly UNCLOS,” explained Yvonne. Freedom of navigation there is a commitment of many countries because it aligns with the Right of Innocent Passage under Article 17 of the 1982 UNCLOS, which is mutually beneficial. “We also hope for free passage, and I think that is all a commitment of many countries to create a free, neutral shipping route that supports each other,” explained Sugiono on Thursday (23/4/2026). The Malacca Strait will not be closed like the Strait of Hormuz because freedom of navigation is the right of every merchant ship to pass through. “So, no. Indonesia is not in a position to do that (impose tariffs in the Malacca Strait),” she clarified. Previously, Finance Minister Purbaya had jokingly said to collect taxes from every ship passing through the Malacca Strait with Singapore and Malaysia. The statement was later clarified.