Indonesia refuses to join maritime protection mission in Strait of Hormuz

Indonesia has declined to participate in a British and French-led mission to protect shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and will not send troops, Foreign Minister Sugiono has said.

He made it clear that if they joined the mission, this would violate Indonesia’s neutral position, Caliber.Az reports, citing Indonesian media.

“The [mission] was being discussed at the conference. But we [Indonesia] must not be involved. It will violate our neutral stance. It goes against our ‘free and active’ [policy]”, he noted.

Amid Jakarta’s refusal to be on board, two Indonesian tankers have spent almost two months stuck in the Persian Gulf. Their only way out is via the Strait of Hormuz.

Earlier, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced after a summit involving 49 countries that the United Kingdom and France would lead a multinational mission to safeguard freedom of navigation in the strategic waterway.

He said further details would be presented following a military planning conference in London.

According to officials in London and Paris, several countries have already expressed willingness to contribute forces, including Ukraine and Germany.

By Bakhtiyar Abbasov