US Proposal for Air Transit Permissions, Indonesia Still Considering
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Yvonne Mewengkang revealed that the clause on overflight clearance, allowing US military aircraft unrestricted passage over Indonesia, is a proposal from the United States.
Yvonne stated that the Indonesian government is currently considering the US request with caution.
“Regarding overflight, this is a proposal from the United States side that is still under internal consideration by the Indonesian government. The regulatory mechanism is still being carefully reviewed,” Yvonne told Kompas.com on Wednesday (15/4/2026).
Yvonne conveyed that the government is conducting a study while prioritising national interests and Indonesia’s airspace sovereignty.
“Indonesia-US defence cooperation itself focuses on strengthening a broader cooperation framework, while overflight arrangements are not the main pillar of that cooperation,” Yvonne said.
Meanwhile, Yvonne noted that the government is also seriously monitoring current global geopolitical dynamics to ensure that every step taken does not create implications for regional stability.
“And it must not undermine the basic principles of state sovereignty, national policy independence, and Indonesia’s position as a country consistently implementing an independent and active foreign policy,” Yvonne added.
The issue of US military aircraft gaining free access to Indonesian airspace has drawn public attention.
The matter emerged from a secret US defence document aimed at securing overflight access for US military aircraft through Indonesian airspace.
The document reportedly followed a meeting between Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and US President Donald Trump in Washington last February.
It was stated that Prabowo approved a proposal to allow comprehensive overflight clearance for US aircraft through Indonesian airspace.
Furthermore, a Reuters report on Tuesday (14/4/2026) indicated that if Indonesia ultimately permits its airspace for US military flights, Jakarta could become involved in conflicts in the South China Sea.
Apart from this issue, several countries have firmly rejected US requests for unrestricted access to their airspace, including Switzerland, Spain, France, and Italy.