More questions as Indonesia denies Russia will get access to a military base near Australia

Indonesia has assured Australia that Russia will not be basing long-range aircraft at one of their military facilities – but the issue has raised more questions.

Indonesia has assured Australia that reports Russia was planning to base long range aircraft at one of their military facilities – just 1400km from Darwin – were incorrect.

Last night Defence Minister Richard Marles said the “reports of the prospect of Russian aircraft operating from Indonesia are simply not true”.

Mr Marles said the denial from Indonesian authorities followed a conversation between him and his counterpart in Jakarta.

“I have spoken to my counterpart, Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin the Minister for Defence, and he has said to me in the clearest possible terms, reports of the prospect of Russian aircraft operating from Indonesia are simply not true,” a statement from Mr Marles said.

The Defence Minister has so far not ruled out if the Russian government made an approach to the Indonesians.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence, Richard Marles, and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. Picture: NewsWire /Philip Gostelow

The development comes as Peter Dutton is demanding the government reveal when they found out about the request by Vladimir Putin who he described as a ‘murderous dictator’..

“This would be a catastrophic failure of diplomatic relations (if the government did not know) … this is a very very troubling development,” he said at a campaign event in the marginal Melbourne electorate of McEwen.

“Did the Prime Minister know about this before it was publicly announced?

“They need to explain to the Australian people what has gone wrong here … We don’t welcome his presence in our neighbourhood at all.”

Earlier in the day when reports broke, Mr Albanese said Russia was not welcome in Australia’s backyard and that he was seeking ‘proper clarification’ on the matter.

Mr Albanese said the government was seeking further information looking into the veracity of the reports.

“Of course we don’t want to see Russian influence in our region,” the Prime Minister said.

“We are ascertaining, having a look at those reports,” he said.

“Well, what we’re seeking is proper clarification.”

Strategic Analysis Australia founder Michael Shoebridge, speaking on Sky News, said Indonesia and Russia’s defence ties had been deepening in recent months.

It comes after the election of former military hardman Prabowo Subianto to the Indonesia presidency, with Russian President Vladimir Putin visiting the southeast Asian nation in late 2024.

Peter Dutton has described reports of Russia seeking to base military aircraft in Indonesia as “very troubling”.

“They’ve done joint naval drills for the first time late last year, and the head of the Russian security council met with Prabowo in February, when this deal would have been put on the table,” Mr Shoebridge said.

“This has got all the smell of the Solomon (Islands) China security deal about it. Where we sought assurances after being surprised and the Solomons said there’s no truth to Chinese basing.

“It turns out, no, there was no truth to Chinese basing, just deepening security co-operation.”

Mr Shoebridge said it was possible Russian bombers would turn up on visits to Indonesia and do long-range patrols just as they’ve been doing around Japan and South Korea.

He said Putin’s motivation would be reclaim Russia’s place as a great power.

Both leaders faced questions on the issue as they continued their election campaigns with Mr Albanese in Lyons in Tasmania and Cooper in Melbourne and Mr Dutton visiting three outer Melbourne electorates: Hawke, Gorton and McEwen.

Mr Dutton said he has requested a briefing from the government on the matter.

Both leaders were also pressed on questions they spent the previous day avoiding with Mr Albanese finally guaranteeing a senior cabinet role for Tanya Plibersek and Mr Dutton admitting he would be helping his children with their home deposits.

Mr Albanese had previously refused to guarantee Ms Plibersek would remain in her environment portfolio after seemingly snubbing her at the Labor campaign launch on Sunday.

The PM said Australia has a “position” of standing with Ukraine.

“We regard Vladimir Putin as an authoritarian leader who has broken international law, who’s attacking the sovereignty of the nation of Ukraine,” he said.

Meanwhile Mr Dutton was repeatedly pressed on whether he would help his children with their house deposit after son Harry told journalists he was “saving like mad” but did not think he could put together a deposit.

“I think our household’s no different to many households where we want our kids to work hard, to save and will help them with a deposit at some stage,” Mr Dutton said.

“Most families across the country, they have not got the luxury, and the prime minister and I might be able to help our kids, but it’s not about us.”

Originally published as More questions as Indonesia denies Russia will get access to a military base near Australia