US, Indonesia discussing proposal allowing US military overflight in Indonesian airspace, defence ministry says


U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth holds a press briefing in the Pentagon Press briefing room, following the announcement of a two-week ceasefire in the Iran war, at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., U.S., April 8, 2026. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

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JAKARTA, ⁠April 13 (Reuters) - Indonesia and the United ‌States are discussing a proposal to give U.S. military aircraft access over Indonesian airspace, Indonesia's defence ministry said on ​Monday, adding that no deal ⁠has yet been ⁠reached.

The U.S. is seeking "blanket overnight access" for American ⁠military ‌aircraft through Indonesian airspace, several media outlets reported on Sunday, adding that ⁠Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto had approved the ​proposal.

Responding to ‌the reports, the defence ministry said in ⁠a statement ​that the two countries are still discussing the "Letter of Intent", and that there is only a ⁠preliminary draft that is being ​discussed internally. The draft is neither final nor binding, the ministry added.

Control over Indonesian airspace belongs ⁠to Indonesia, the ministry said, adding that deals with other countries will protect Indonesia's sovereignty and adhere to Indonesian law.

U.S. Defense Secretary ​Pete Hegseth is set to ⁠meet with his Indonesian counterpart Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin later ​on Monday, according to ‌an advisory released by the ​U.S. government.

(Reporting by Ananda Teresia; Writing by Stanley Widianto; Editing by David Stanway)

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