The discourse on access to foreign air criticized, countries invited to respect active freedom policy

JAKARTA – The academician of international relations at Bakrie University, Yuda Kurniawan, emphasized that the plan to grant access to foreign aircraft in Indonesian airspace must be carefully examined to avoid disrupting the principle of freedom of foreign action.

According to Yuda, every policy in the defense and security sector should be based on the interests of the nation, not on foreign interests.

“The question is whether this plan truly aligns with the policy of active freedom, or if it has the potential to draw Indonesia into the whirlwind of global rivalry,” he stated during a public discussion in Jakarta on Wednesday, April 29.

He believes that the preparation of the surveillance system and law enforcement is optimal. This includes the preparation of key equipment in the defense system (alutsista), such as radars and interceptor aircraft, as well as integrated command and control systems.

Beyond technical aspects, Yuda also emphasized the need for mature geopolitical calculations, especially in the context of escalating rivalry between the United States and China in the region. Without appropriate calculations, this policy is seen as potentially placing Indonesia in a strategically vulnerable position.

“There must be a clear mitigation of risks, including the possibility of using Indonesian airspace for military or intelligence purposes against third countries,” he said.

The statement was made during a discussion titled “The Independence of the Pacific is not an exclusion zone: criticizing the foreign military access policy from the perspective of air sovereignty, national defense policy, and national values” organized by the Indonesian Youth Congress in Jakarta.

Yuda emphasized that every international agreement concerning political, security, and economic issues must refer to Law No. 37 of 1999 on foreign relations. Furthermore, the process must go through review and approval by the House of Representatives of the Republic of Indonesia.

As a recommendation, he encourages the government to strengthen the modernization of air defense and focus on active defensive diplomacy. These measures are considered important to preserve sovereignty while ensuring continued international cooperation without sacrificing national interests.

“Indonesia must remain open to international cooperation, but must not sacrifice the principles of sovereignty and national interests,” he declared.