Indonesia denies reports of Russian military aircraft plans in Papua

Indonesia has assured Australia that no Russian military aircraft will be stationed at an airbase in its Papua province, dismissing recent reports as false, according to Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles.

Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles confirmed on Wednesday that Indonesia has provided clear assurances denying any intention to host Russian military aircraft at an airbase in its easternmost province of Papua.

Marles said he spoke directly with his Indonesian counterpart, Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, who rejected a recent report suggesting Russia had lodged a request to deploy long-range warplanes at Manuhua Air Force Base, located in Biak Numfor, roughly 1,300 kilometres from the Australian city of Darwin.

The matter gained political attention after Australian opposition leader Peter Dutton raised the issue during an election campaign, claiming Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had been informed of the situation. Dutton’s remarks followed a report by the defence publication Janes, which alleged that Russia sought to station aircraft at the site.

Marles firmly dismissed both the report and Dutton’s claims, stating that Indonesia had made it “utterly clear” such reports were “completely false” and the country had “no intention” of hosting Russian aircraft. He also criticised Dutton for suggesting Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto had publicly confirmed Russia's request, calling it “completely wrong.”

Meanwhile, on Tuesday, Russia’s First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov met with President Prabowo in Jakarta to discuss trade relations, including progress on a free trade agreement with the Eurasian Economic Union. Indonesia’s Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, Airlangga Hartarto, said they hoped to finalise the agreement by the time of Prabowo’s expected visit to Russia for the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, scheduled for 18–21 June.

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