Indonesia's Foreign Ministry Responds to Reopening of Strait of Hormuz Following US-Iran Ceasefire Agreement

The Indonesian government has emphasised the importance of maintaining freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz amid opportunities for the recovery of global shipping activities following the ceasefire agreement between the United States and Iran, which is expected to restore stability to the world’s energy routes. Spokesperson for the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Kemlu), Vahd Nabyl A. Mulachela, stated that freedom of navigation must be upheld in accordance with international law provisions. “We request that freedom of navigation be respected and in accordance with international law,” Nabyl said in a press statement in Jakarta on Wednesday (8/4). The statement was issued in response to emerging discussions from parties involved in the conflict in the Persian Gulf region regarding the possibility of imposing fees on ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz. According to him, the ceasefire agreement between the US and Iran opens opportunities for the recovery of shipping activities in that strategic route, which was previously disrupted due to conflict. He assessed that this development not only has a positive impact on Indonesia but also on the Gulf region and the international community at large. “We hope it can develop into a more permanent conflict resolution that has a good impact on our interests, both in terms of freedom of navigation and for the future,” he said. Previously, ideas regarding the imposition of transit fees in the Strait of Hormuz had surfaced from both parties, both Iran and the United States, when the conflict between them was still ongoing. With the ceasefire, Indonesia hopes that stability in the region can be maintained, while ensuring that global trade routes remain open and safe for international shipping.