US Military Violates Indonesian Territory, Foreign Ministry: Action Has Been Taken

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has responded to reports that the US military fleet conducted 18 violations in Indonesian airspace. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Yvonne Mewengkang did not explicitly confirm the violations. Nevertheless, Yvonne assured that the TNI has taken specific actions when violation reports arise. “Indeed, regarding this (US military violations), the TNI itself has its mechanisms. If I am not mistaken, there is also a specific report related to this and actions that have been taken,” said Yvonne during the Foreign Ministry press conference broadcast on the ministry’s YouTube channel, on Thursday, 16 April 2026. According to Yvonne, enforcement against violations by the US military falls under the TNI’s authority. However, she emphasised that all decisions must still prioritise national interests and Indonesia’s territorial sovereignty. “We need to emphasise that it is important for us to continue placing our national interests and in this context, our airspace sovereignty as a priority,” she said. The US military violations came to light after international news agency Reuters published a report stating that the US was recorded as having violated Indonesian territory 18 times without good faith in responding to warnings from Jakarta. In the report published on 14 April 2026, Reuters revealed that the US military violations were listed in a letter sent by the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the Ministry of Defence. The letter was sent before Defence Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin visited the United States and signed cooperation with the US Department of Defence on 13 April 2026. In response to the report, Yvonne assured that the Letter of Intent Overflight Clearance proposal or the US suggestion to transit Indonesian airspace is still being discussed internally by the Indonesian government. “And regarding its mechanisms, regulations, and various details, they still need to be carefully reviewed, certainly placing national interests and our airspace sovereignty,” she said. The Head of Defence Information Bureau of the Ministry of Defence, Brigadier General Rico Ricardo Sirait, has not yet responded to confirmation requests regarding the US military violations and the letter sent by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In previous statements, Rico said the government is still carefully reviewing the content of the cooperation offered by the US. Rico also claimed that Indonesia has made several important adjustments to the proposal. “The document is also non-binding and not automatically effective, and still requires further discussion through applicable technical mechanisms and national procedures,” he said, on Tuesday, 14 April 2026.