Sjafrie: No Commitments on Airspace with the United States

Defence Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin said he did not enter into any agreement or commitment that could harm the country during talks with United States Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth at the Pentagon on 13 April 2026. He said the document bearing his signature is a pre-contract document or Letter of Intent (LoI), not a Letter of Commitment (LoC). He did this to safeguard national interests with a global power such as the United States. ‘So, we did not make any commitments with the United States in terms of airspace,’ Sjafrie told a working meeting with Commission I of the Indonesian House of Representatives, on Tuesday, 19 May 2026. He stressed that the Defence Ministry and the government stand by upholding the Constitution and national interests, including through signing the Defence Cooperation Partnership or MDCP. According to Sjafrie, signing the MDCP with the United States is significant not only for protecting national interests but also to ensure the United States respects Indonesia. He continued that, in the LoI signed, the most important point is that Indonesia remains faithful to its Constitution. ‘So, I cannot respond to hoaxes before I left. I am answering you because you are the representatives,’ Sjafrie said. Earlier, in the meeting between Sjafrie and Hegseth at the Pentagon on 13 April, it was announced the establishment of the Major Defence Cooperation Partnership (MDCP) between the two countries. The MDCP is intended as a framework to advance bilateral defence cooperation, while reaffirming the two countries’ joint commitment to maintaining peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. According to Hegseth, the military relationship between the two countries continues to develop, with more than 170 joint military exercises conducted each year. He assessed that Sjafrie’s visit reflects the strengthening security ties between the two countries. Meanwhile, Sjafrie said the Indonesian delegation arrived with great enthusiasm to continue developing the defence relationship expected to endure for future generations. ‘We work on the basis of mutual respect and mutual benefit to advance each other’s national interests,’ he said. Regarding the controversy over permission for overflight of Indonesian airspace by the United States, as several foreign media reported the issue of a blanket overflight clearance for US military aircraft in the country. However, the Defence Ministry said the agreement is still under internal and inter-agency discussion. The blanket overflight clearance document highlighted has not yet been finalised.