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Indonesia’s Defence Minister said connected Tuesday (May 19, 2026) that helium had signed a letter of intent (LOI) past period with U.S. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth connected granting U.S. subject craft access to Indonesian airspace, but said nary committedness was made.
“The missive of intent signed successful Washington mentioned respecting each country’s territorial integrity, the request for a mechanics if Indonesia agreed to airspace access, and respect for section laws,” Defence Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin told a Parliamentary hearing. “We made not a azygous committedness with the U.S. connected airspace. We uphold the Constitution and our National interests,” Mr. Sjafrie said.
The contented of overflight entree created controversy successful Indonesia past month. The Foreign Ministry warned the Defence Ministry that the connection to springiness the U.S. subject ‘blanket’ support to alert implicit Indonesian territory could risk entangling Jakarta successful imaginable South China Sea conflicts, Reuters reported.
Mr. Sjafrie said Mr. Hegseth had made the petition for the overflight entree last twelvemonth during an Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) meeting. Mr. Hegseth had cited exigency reasons erstwhile he asked for the access, Mr. Sjafrie said without providing further details. A petition for remark was sent to the Pentagon. There was nary contiguous reply, and erstwhile the petition was sent from Jakarta it was aboriginal greeting Washington clip and outside concern hours.
After Mr. Hegseth and Mr. Sjafrie met successful Washington past month, the Pentagon said the 2 countries had established a large defence practice concern and listed a fig of ways in which they would physique defence ties. Mr. Sjafrie said the concern includes the modernisation of Indonesia’s military, but “it does not notation immoderate subject equipment”. He said the U.S. would assistance train Indonesian soldiers.
