RI has no overflight clearance commitment with US, MoD Sjamsoeddin

hartono · May 19, 2026

RI has no overflight clearance commitment with US, MoD Sjamsoeddin

Indonesia's Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin leaving the chamber after attending a meeting with Commission I of the House of Representatives at the Parliament Complex in Jakarta on Tuesday (May 19, 2026). (ANTARA/Fath Putra Mulya)

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesia's Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin told lawmakers on Tuesday that Indonesia does not have any commitment with the United States to provide overflight clearance for its military.

During a meeting with Commission I of the House of Representatives at the Parliament Complex here, he said the letter of intent, which he signed during his US visit last April, was not a letter of commitment.

"This is merely a letter of intent, not a letter of commitment; which means that we have not sealed any commitments from the US on airspace. We will defend the constitution and our national interest," Sjamsoeddin emphasized.

He conveyed the remarks to clarify the overflight clearance issue following the signing of Indonesia-US Major Defense Cooperation Partnership last April.

The minister explained the letter of intent with the US recognized territorial integrity and sovereignty and acknowledged standard procedure prevailing in the respective countries.

Sjamsoeddin continued his remarks by recalling the talks with the US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth during the recent ASEAN Defense Ministers Meeting (ADMM) Plus last November.

At that time, he said, Hegseth reaffirmed his support for Indonesia's defense development and acknowledged Indonesia's focus on building its defensive capability against potential attacks.

The US minister then requested his Indonesian counterpart allow US military planes to pass Indonesian airspace when necessary.

"Minister, can we pass through Indonesian airspace if we need it for particularly urgent reasons? We will follow any rules you issue anyway," Sjamsoeddin quoted Hegseth as saying during the session.

Sjamsoeddin then explained to Hegseth that he needed to report to the Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto.

"I then answered him, Mr. Secretary, although there are hopes, I will first report to my president because he is the commander-in-chief of the Indonesian Defense Forces," Sjamsoeddin added, emphasizing that he did not promptly answer Hegseth's request.

The US side then followed up on the conversation by dispatching a delegate to present the proposed overflight clearance to Sjamsoeddin last February and an invitation to discuss it directly was also conveyed.

"To discuss, not to determine, as the team then deliberated the matter. Finally, last month I visited the US to sign the letter of intent, not the letter of commitment," he added.

Indonesia is not committed to providing overflight access to the United States out of respect to the constitution and national interest, Sjamsoeddin stressed.

"And in defense cooperation, we also recognized the principles of mutual benefit and mutual respect," he said.