US Controversy Over Free Access to Indonesian Airspace and Ministry of Defence Clarification
Controversy Over US Free Access to Indonesian Airspace and Ministry of Defence Clarification
In recent days, information has emerged that the Government of the Republic of Indonesia under President Prabowo Subianto has agreed to grant full airspace access to the United States military.
This was revealed through a report by Indian-based media outlet The Sunday Guardian last weekend, on Sunday (12/4). In its coverage, the media reported that during a Board of Peace (BoP) meeting in Washington in February, Prabowo and US President Donald Trump reached an agreement on Indonesian airspace.
It is reported that in the agreement set to be signed on Wednesday (15/4) by Indonesian Defence Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin and US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, Uncle Sam’s aircraft—including military ones—can transit through Indonesian airspace with just notification, without needing approval.
The draft text of the agreement to be signed—which was subsequently reported by Reuters news agency—explains that the purpose of this arrangement is for “the Indonesian Government to permit transit flights through Indonesian airspace in full for US aircraft for emergency operations, crisis response purposes, and agreed joint training activities.”
Additionally, the mechanism outlined also provides ease for US aircraft to transit without lengthy processes. Just with notification.
“The United States is seeking ‘blanket overnight access’ for US military aircraft through Indonesian airspace, as reported by several media outlets on Sunday, and added that Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has approved the proposal,” stated the Reuters report on Monday (13/4).
Hegseth has already begun meetings with Sjafrie in the US early this week for further discussions on the agreement.
Response from DPR RI Commission I
The issue of Indonesian airspace sovereignty has since drawn attention from the DPR RI.
Deputy Chairman of Commission I of the DPR, Sukamta, emphasised that every foreign flight, especially military ones, must follow licensing mechanisms, including diplomatic clearance and security clearance.
Therefore, he assessed that there is no legal basis allowing one country to have full access to another country’s airspace.
“There is no legal basis that allows the granting of unlimited free access to national airspace to foreign parties,” said Sukamta when contacted on Monday (13/4).
He stressed that Indonesia holds a strategic position in the Indo-Pacific region, so it must remain committed to maintaining regional stability. For this reason, Sukamta assessed that policies regarding foreign military access must be considered carefully, including their impact on geopolitical balance.
“The government is expected to provide a complete, proportional, and fact-based explanation,” he said.
Similarly, Commission I DPR member TB Hasanuddin also reminded the government that it must consult with the DPR RI if the information is true. In principle, Hasan said that provisions regarding this are regulated in Law No. 21 of 2025 on Airspace Management, particularly Articles 40 and 41.
The man who once served as Presidential Military Secretary (Sesmilpres) said that the content of those articles allows for the granting of permits as long as they comply with applicable aviation regulations and international cooperation.
However, if the government grants blanket clearance or comprehensive airspace transit permits, several matters must be considered. Such as open reasons for granting clearance to the US, limitations on the types of aircraft permitted to transit including airspace parameters that can be crossed, oversight by the Indonesian Air Force (TNI AU), and it must go through a ratification process in the DPR RI.
Explanation from the Indonesian Ministry of Defence
Meanwhile, the Indonesian Ministry of Defence, through the Head of Information of the Secretariat General of the Ministry of Defence, Brigadier General Rico Ricardo Sirait, stated that the circulating Indonesia-US agreement document is an initial draft.
“That document is not a final agreement, does not have binding legal force, and cannot yet serve as the basis for official Government of the Republic of Indonesia policy,” said Rico in a written statement on Monday (13/4).
Rico emphasised that defence cooperation with other countries will always prioritise national interests, the sovereignty of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia, and compliance with applicable law. He also claimed that ultimately, control and oversight of airspace will remain fully in Indonesia’s hands.
“In the Indonesian context, this means all processes must follow statutory regulations, institutional mechanisms, and national political decisions. There is no room for unilateral implementation outside Indonesian law,” Rico explained.
Furthermore, he urged the public to respond to the information carefully and proportionately.
Rico claimed that the cooperation on US airspace transit access in Indonesian territory is a proposal from the US. That proposal then became material for internal consideration by the Indonesian Government. However, even if it is only a proposal, Rico explained that it will still be reviewed carefully based on national interests, Indonesia’s foreign policy principles, and state sovereignty.
Warning from the Indonesian Foreign Ministry
Meanwhile, citing a Reuters report on Tuesday (13/4), the Indonesian Foreign Ministry has issued a warning to the Indonesian Ministry of Defence regarding the draft agreement on archipelagic airspace earlier this month.
“A letter from the foreign ministry [RI]—which has not been reported before—is marked as urgent and confidential. That letter was delivered ahead of the meeting between Defence Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin and his US counterpart, Pete Hegseth, in Washington,” as reported by Reuters in a story titled “Indonesian foreign ministry urged caution over US military overflight proposal.”
Reuters, citing two Indonesian official sources, reported that in the letter, the Indonesian Foreign Ministry urged the defence ministry to delay any final agreement with Washington.
As of the writing of this news, CNNIndonesia