Indonesia’s foreign ministry breaks silence on Russia military saga
Indonesia’s foreign ministry has broken its silence on claims Russia had requested to use a military base within 1300 km of Darwin.
Indonesia’s foreign ministry has broken its silence on reports Russia requested to use a base in Papua, 1300 km of Darwin, confirming it has “never granted” foreign countries permission to build a military base in the country.
Military website Janes reported on Tuesday that Russia had lodged an official request to base several long-range aircraft at Manhua air force Base in Papua province, prompting the Australian government to urgently seek clarification from Indonesia.
In a statement on Tuesday, Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles said Indonesia had assured him that won’t be happening.
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton was later forced to concede he made a “mistake” after falsely claiming the Indonesian President had confirmed reports.
Addressing the matter for the first time, Indonesian Foreign Ministry spokesman Rolliansyah Soemirat said in a statement Indonesia will permit foreign military aircraft or vessels on “peaceful missions” to visit the nation.
“1. Indonesia has never granted permission to any country to build or possess a military base in Indonesia,” the statement read.
“2. As a country with a longstanding tradition of a free and active foreign policy, Indonesia will receive and permit military aircraft or vessels from other nations on peaceful missions to visit Indonesia.”
The foreign ministry added Indonesia’s plans to build a satellite launch site on the island of Biak, located in Cenderawasih Bay, near the northern coast of Papua.
“Discussions on this matter began several years ago but have not yet resulted in any decision,” it said.
Russian envoy’s cryptic statement
It comes after Vladimir Putin’s envoy to Indonesia Sergei Tolchenov released a cryptic statement about “alleged plans” to seek access to an Indonesian base near Australia taking aim at the AUKUS and the nuclear submarine deal.
The envoy suggested there was nothing unusual about the military co-operation and that the real problem in the region was Australia and the AUKUS pact.
“Concerning the inquiries coming from Canberra to the Indonesian officials about the alleged plans to establish in Indonesia a base for long-range aircraft of the Russian Air-Space Forces, we would like to draw the attention to the following,” Mr Tolchenov said.
“Military co-operation is an integral part of the intergovernmental relations between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Indonesia. It is solely of bilateral character and based on a relevant legal framework and the national legislation of each respective country.”
In remarks first reported by The Australian newspaper, he said that all interactions between Russian and Indonesian armed forces and Indonesia were aimed at strengthening the defensive capabilities of both sides, not at any third countries, and posed no security threat to the Asia-Pacific region.
“When it comes to any challenges to regional stability, they are more likely to arise from the rotational deployment of large military contingents from extra-regional states on Australian territory, including the provision of airfields for the landing of strategic bombers and port infrastructure for visits by nuclear-powered submarines,” the Russian envoy said.
“Particularly alarming are the currently discussed plans to deploy the US’ intermediate-range missiles in Australia, which would put ASEAN countries – including Indonesia – within its range, as well as the acquisition by the Royal Australian Navy of nuclear-powered submarines under the AUKUS trilateral partnership.
“The latter raise serious concerns about the effectiveness of established nuclear-weapon-free zones in the Asia-Pacific region, such as the South Pacific Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone (Treaty of Rarotonga) and the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone (the Bangkok Treaty).
“Not happening”
Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese dismissed Russia’s request “as something that is not happening” and took aim at Mr Dutton over his false claims about the Indonesian President.
“How do you reconcile the fact that the issue here is that Peter Dutton said that the Indonesian President had issued a statement saying that there would be a Russian air force base in Papua. It was simply wrong,” Mr Albanese said.
“The question is – how could Peter Dutton, if he is successful on May 3, deal with the President of Indonesia which is so important for Australia?”
Mr Dutton finally admitted during Wednesday night’s leaders debate on the ABC that he was mistaken.
“Do you admit you got that wrong?,’’ ABC host David Speers asked.
“The reference I was making should have been to the President and was in relation to resources from the Prabowa government,’’ he said.
“It was a mistake.”
“What we have seen the last 12 hours or so is that the Russian envoy to Indonesia has confirmed that there have been discussions and obviously there is a concerning closeness in that relationship.
“And I think the main point here is that the Prime Minister knew nothing of it.”
Mr Albanese said it was “an extraordinary double down from the alternative Prime Minister of Australia who verballed the Indonesian President.”
“Indonesia will be the fourth largest economy in the world,’’ he said.
“I regard the Indonesian President as a personal friend and we have good relations there. The idea you throw out these comments is just extraordinary. And the fact that we just saw a double down on it as if there’s nothing to see here, just shows there’s no understanding of the need for diplomacy.”
Originally published as Indonesia’s foreign ministry breaks silence on Russia military saga
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