Anthony Albanese has accused Peter Dutton of misquoting Indonesia’s president regarding questions about Russian military presence in the region. The Prime Minister criticizes Dutton for making “extraordinary overreach” statements without facts being confirmed. Additionally, Penny Wong, the foreign affairs minister, claims that Dutton fabricated a statement from Indonesia’s President Prabowo Subianto. A recent report by the defense publication Janes suggests that Russia had filed an official request to base its aerospace forces aircraft on Biak island in Indonesia’s easternmost Papua region, but it did not confirm if the request was granted. Richard Marles, Australia’s defense minister and deputy prime minister, confirmed with his Indonesian counterpart that reports of Russian aircraft operating in Indonesia are not true.

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/apr/16/albanese-accuses-dutton-of-verballing-indonesias-president-over-reported-russian-military-encroachment