Briefing
Up In The Air
More news: The Indonesian Defence Minister has assured Canberra that the country will not host Russian military planes at a facility in the country’s easternmost province.
Earlier on Tuesday multiple Indonesian government sources confirmed to British defence publication Janes that Moscow is seeking to base several long-range aircraft at the Manuhua air force base, which shares a runway with the Frans Kaisiepo airport in the Indonesian province of Papua.
Speaking to the ABC, Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles said that having spoken to his Indonesian counterpart, "Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, the minister for defence, and he has said to me in the clearest possible terms, reports of the prospect of Russian aircraft operating from Indonesia are simply not true."
The ABC reports that the Indonesian minister told Marles that he had not received any Russian request to access the base — although that doesn't rule out the possibility it was raised at a more junior level.
Earlier, PM Anthony Albanese and Foreign Minister Penny Wong had been seeking more information from Jakarta about the media reports.
Albanese seeks 'clarification' on reports Putin requested use of Indonesian airbase
The news: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says Australia is seeking clarification on reports the Indonesian government has received an official request from Moscow to base Russian military planes at a facility in the country's easternmost province.
The context: Multiple Indonesian government sources confirmed to British defence publication Janes that the request was received by the office of Minister of Defence Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin following his meeting with secretary of Russia's Security Council Sergei Shoigu in February.
In the request, Russia seeks to base several long-range aircraft at the Manuhua air force base, which shares a runway with the Frans Kaisiepo airport in the Indonesian province of Papua.
In the request, no details were given regarding the number or types of aircraft Moscow intends to deploy.
What they said: "We have a good relationship with our friends in Indonesia and we're seeking further clarification," Albanese said.
"We have been right to have been engaged in our region, and we have an extremely positive relationship with our friends in Indonesia."
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton commented: "We've seen women and children who have died in Ukraine as a result of the decisions of Vladimir Putin. He's a murderous dictator. We don't welcome his presence in our neighbourhood at all.
"It is deeply destabilising and we would want to hear from the prime minister about what efforts have been undertaken — surely they must have known about this before it's been made public."
ByHugoMathers
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