The news report that Russia sought a permanent base for its warplanes in Indonesia’s remote Papua region set off alarm bells in Australia. However, in Indonesia, the real surprise was the frenzy this news created in Australia’s tight election campaign. Experts have always been highly skeptical of Indonesia granting such a request, partly because Indonesia has long been committed to maintaining a non-aligned foreign policy. In fact, no foreign power has a military base in Indonesia, and it has a constitutional commitment to “free and independent” foreign policy. The probability of Indonesia accepting a Russian request for a permanent base is very low. Indonesia stretched across South-east Asia, Papua acts as a gateway to the Pacific and the Biak airbase is not far from Darwin, Australia, which already houses a US military base. Even so, it remains Indonesia’s cultural tendency to say no, so negotiations might take a long time. The relationship between Indonesia and Russia has grown stronger as of late, with both conducting naval drills and the signing of a free trade agreement. Despite these advancements, the likelihood of Indonesia becoming a Russian client state remains low.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/apr/17/russia-indonesia-airbase-putin-wider-ambitions-analysis
Russia’s attempt to establish a military presence at an Indonesian airbase was doomed from the start, yet it may be part of a broader strategy to expand its influence – Australian News
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