Indonesia has signed a letter with the United States but has made no commitment to grant US forces access to Indonesian airspace, according to Indonesia’s defence minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin. The statement comes amid domestic controversy over US overflight access that surfaced earlier this month.
Indonesia’s foreign ministry previously warned that a proposal described as granting the US military “blanket” permission to fly over Indonesian territory could entangle Jakarta in potential disputes linked to the South China Sea. The concern is that broader access could be perceived as supporting activities tied to regional tensions.
While the letter is acknowledged as a formal step in discussions, the defence minister’s position is that it does not amount to an operational commitment to allow US aircraft to use Indonesian airspace. The reported dispute therefore centres on what, if any, obligations Indonesia has accepted through the signing and how any future overflight arrangements would be framed and governed.
The accounts agree that Indonesia is clarifying its stance to avoid misunderstandings about the extent of any US access.
