Indonesia Signed Letter but Made No Commitment to US on Airspace Access, Defence Minister Says Indonesia's Defence Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin has sparked a fresh round of debate over his country's relationship with the US after claiming that Indonesia signed a letter of intent allowing US military aircraft access to Indonesian airspace in April.
However, this supposedly "historic" agreement was met with a crucial caveat: no commitment was made.
The defence minister's words are music to the ears of those who have long argued for Indonesia's strict adherence to its national interests and territorial sovereignty.