Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says government is “seeking further clarification” from Jakarta.
Officials in Canberra are scrambling to stop Russia from using an Indonesian air force base that would put its jets within striking range of the Australian mainland.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Tuesday his government was “seeking further clarification” from Jakarta about Moscow’s request to access the Manuhua Air Force Base, which was first reported by American military website Janes.
Apparently confirming that the Kremlin asked to house its long-range aircraft at the base, Defense Minister Richard Marles said Tuesday that Indonesia had “not responded” to the request and that Canberra was engaging with Jakarta “at a senior level” on the matter.
Although Indonesia has long maintained strategic neutrality, it has deepened security and defense ties with Russia since President Prabowo Subianto was elected last year.
Manuhua Air Force Base sits in the province of West Papua, about 1,300 kilometers from Darwin, a city on Australia’s northern tip. Australia and the United States frequently conduct military exercises in the area.
