Indonesia, US sign ‘major’ defence cooperation agreement

⁠US ⁠Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth ⁠has hailed the establishment of a “major defence cooperation partnership” with Indonesia, saying it underscores the “strength and potential” of ties with Jakarta to maintain stability in the Asia Pacific region.

Hegseth hosted Indonesian Minister of Defence Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin at the Pentagon on Monday, where the deal was signed.

“This [partnership] signifies the strength and potential of our security relationship… bolsters regional deterrence, and advances our shared commitment to peace through strength,” Hegeseth said, according to a Defense Department statement.

The US defence secretary also said Washington and Jakarta’s security relationship was “active and growing”, noting that both countries’ armed forces participate in more than 170 military exercises together each year.

A joint statement on the new partnership said the two sides had agreed to work on co-developing “sophisticated asymmetric capabilities, pioneering next-generation defence technologies in the maritime, subsurface and autonomous systems domains”, and improving operational readiness.

“We are here as Indonesian delegates… with very great enthusiasm to continue to develop our defence relationship, [which] should be enduring for our next generation in Indonesia and the United States of America,” Sjafrie was quoted as saying.

“We’re working on behalf of mutual respect and mutual benefit to enhance [the] value of our national interests,” he added.

The signing of the partnership comes a day after reports in Indonesia that both countries are discussing a proposal to ⁠give US military aircraft access to Indonesian airspace.

The US is seeking “blanket” overflight access for 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 Ministry of Defence in Jakarta said in a statement that the two countries are still discussing a “Letter of ⁠Intent”, and only a preliminary draft on overflight was being discussed internally. The draft is neither final nor binding, the ⁠ministry added.

Control over Indonesian airspace belongs to Indonesia, the Defence Ministry added, saying that deals ⁠with other countries would protect Indonesia’s sovereignty and adhere to Indonesian law.

“The deal is not final. It is not legally binding. It cannot be used as a basis for official government policy,” Defence Minister Sjafrie’s spokesman, Rico Ricardo Sirait, told the Jakarta Globe.

“Authority, control, and oversight over Indonesian airspace rest entirely in our country. Any potential regulation shall guarantee Indonesia’s full authority to approve or reject any activity in national airspace,” he told the news outlet.