Indonesia’s Defence Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin has denied claims that Indonesia granted unrestricted airspace access to the United States military after signing a letter of intent with US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth last month.
Speaking during a parliamentary hearing on Tuesday, Sjafrie explained that the document signed in Washington only outlined general principles of cooperation and did not include any binding commitment related to Indonesian airspace access for US military aircraft.
According to Sjafrie, the letter focused on respecting the territorial integrity of both nations, following local laws, and creating a proper mechanism in case Indonesia ever considers such requests in the future.
“We made not a single commitment with the US on airspace. We uphold the constitution and our national interests,” Sjafrie stated during the hearing.
The issue gained public attention after reports surfaced suggesting the United States had requested broad overflight access through Indonesian territory. Concerns quickly emerged within Indonesia, especially regarding the possibility of being drawn into rising tensions in the South China Sea.
Reports indicated that Indonesia’s foreign ministry had warned the defence ministry that granting blanket access to US military aircraft could create diplomatic and regional security complications.
Sjafrie revealed that the original request from Hegseth was first raised during an Association of Southeast Asian Nations meeting last year. The request reportedly involved emergency-related reasons, although further details were not disclosed publicly.
The Pentagon has not yet issued an official response regarding the latest remarks from Indonesia’s defence minister.
Following meetings between US and Indonesian officials in Washington last month, the Pentagon described the relationship between both countries as a major defence cooperation partnership aimed at strengthening military ties and regional collaboration.
Sjafrie added that the partnership mainly focuses on military modernization efforts and training programs for Indonesian soldiers. However, he emphasized that the agreement does not involve commitments related to military equipment or unrestricted military operations within Indonesian territory.
The development reflects Indonesia’s continued effort to balance international defence partnerships while protecting its sovereignty and maintaining neutrality amid growing geopolitical tensions in the Asia-Pacific region.
