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

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

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Reuters

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.

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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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