Russian air force plan in Indonesia draws controversy

This handout picture taken and released on April 15, 2025 by Indonesia's Presidential Palace shows Indonesia's President Prabowo Subianto (L) receiving Russia's First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov at the Merdeka Palace in Jakarta. - Presidential Palace via AFP

JAKARTA: The Indonesian government has dismissed reports of a proposal from Russia to base several of its aircraft at an Indonesian Air Force base in Papua, asserting that the country will not allow any foreign military bases to be installed in the country.

Defence publication Janes published a report on Monday (April 14) that Russia had sought “permission from Jakarta to base several long-range Russian Aerospace Forces (VKS) aircraft at the Manuhua Air Force Base” in Biak Numfor regency, Papua. The base shares a runway with the Frans Kaisiepo Airport in the regency.