US Military Seeks Access to Indonesian Airspace, Sugiono Speaks Frankly

Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia - Foreign Minister Sugiono has spoken out regarding reports of a request from the United States for blanket overflight or comprehensive flight permissions for its military fleet in Indonesian airspace.

According to him, the request is not a blanket overflight, but rather overflight access.

“I think the terminology needs to be clarified, yes, it’s not blanket overflight, it’s overflight access,” said Sugiono at the Bina Graha Building, Presidential Palace Complex, on Wednesday (22/4/2026).

Sugiono also denied reports that the plan would drag Indonesia into global conflicts. According to him, the government has an obligation to protect the entire nation, so there are aspects of state sovereignty and improving welfare in that regard.

“So I don’t see it as dragging Indonesia into global conflicts,” he said.

Sugiono also did not deny that discussions on overflight access are still one of the intensive topics with the US side. However, it needs to go through the proper discussion processes and mechanisms.

“What the mechanisms are and so on is in Indonesia. And I think sovereignty, national interests will certainly be the primary ones,” he said.

“Secondly, as a country with a tradition and free and active foreign policy, similar agreements if done with other countries, there’s no problem, right? What the mechanisms are like, what the implementation is like,” he added.