The Indonesian government’s decision to accept a US proposal to turn an underused airport into a maintenance hub for Lockheed C-130 Hercules military aircraft has stirred up a familiar debate: how far can Jakarta deepen defence ties with Washington while preserving its non-aligned stance?
The plan, which would make Indonesia home to the first facility of its kind in Southeast Asia, emerged alongside a separate discussion over allowing US military aircraft to access Indonesian airspace, adding to concerns over sovereignty, transparency and a “free and active” foreign policy.
The neutral doctrine has long guided Indonesia’s efforts to avoid alignment with major powers while still playing an active role in international affairs.
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Defence Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin said on May 19 that his American counterpart, Pete Hegseth, had floated the idea of a maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) hub for C-139 Hercules aircraft in Indonesia.
“He offered it as this doesn’t exist in any Asean country. He said: ‘How about I centralise C-130 maintenance throughout Asia in Indonesia at our expense?’ I reported to President [Prabowo Subianto], who told me to ‘give him Kertajati’. Well, we’re working on that,” Sjafrie told parliament.
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