Indonesia rejects Russian request to station aircraft on its territory, Australian minister confirms

Australia's Defence Minister, Richard Marles, confirmed that Indonesia will not allow Russian aircraft to be stationed on its territory, following reports that Moscow had sought permission to access a military base in Papua province.

The matter raised significant concerns in Canberra, particularly as it emerged ahead of Australia's upcoming national elections on May 3, Caliber.Az reports per Bloomberg.

Marles spoke with Indonesian Defence Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, who firmly denied the reports. “He made it unequivocally clear to me that there was no prospect of any Russian aircraft operating from Indonesia, and that the reports of that were just not true,” Marles told Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) on April 16.

The issue came to light after defense media outlet Janes reported that Russia had requested access to the Manuhua Air Force Base in Papua, which is located less than 1,400 kilometers (870 miles) from Australia’s northern city of Darwin. This proximity sparked fears within Australia about potential security risks.

Indonesia, which has long pursued a balanced foreign policy, seeks to maintain good relations with both Western nations and countries like Russia. While Russia’s Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu met with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto in Jakarta earlier this year, Indonesia has remained neutral regarding Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, avoiding taking sides on the issue.

In response to the reports, Russian officials refrained from commenting directly. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov referred to the reports as “fake news” in a statement to ABC, emphasizing the spread of misinformation on sensitive topics.

The reports gained significant traction in Australian media, triggering strong reactions from the opposition. Australia’s center-right Liberal Party accused the government of mishandling national security, with opposition leader Peter Dutton criticizing the government’s stance. Dutton, however, faced criticism from Foreign Minister Penny Wong for making “reckless” public remarks, particularly after he falsely claimed that the Indonesian president had confirmed the Russian request.

By Khagan Isayev