South Pacific NIMBY: Australia Worries as Russia Reportedly Eyes Indonesia Base

Australia is scrambling to try to prevent Russia from using an Indonesian air force base that would position its jets within striking range of the Australian mainland, wrote Politico. 

“We obviously do not want to see Russian influence in our region, very clearly,” Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on the issue. 

Currently, Australia is “seeking further clarification” from Indonesia about Russia’s request to base Russian Aerospace Forces (VKS) aircraft at the Manuhua Air Force Base in Indonesia’s easternmost province, according to the American military news outlet, Janes.  

Manuhua Air Force Base is in Biak Numfor, in the Indonesian province of Papua. Australia and the US often carry out military exercises in the area. 

Last week, Australia’s Defense Minister Richard Marles said that he spoke to his Indonesian counterpart, Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, who told him that reports about Russia using the Indonesian military base are “simply not true,” the Guardian reported.   

Meanwhile, Russia has not commented on the issue, but analysts said the unusual proposal was unlikely to be approved due to its geopolitical risks. 

Since President Prabowo Subianto took office last year, Indonesia has strengthened its security and defense ties with Russia, despite maintaining a policy of strategic neutrality that has long characterized the country’s foreign policy, explained the Conversation. 

Australia, meanwhile, reiterated its position toward Russia, saying that the country stands with Ukraine and considers Russia’s President Vladimir Putin “an authoritarian leader who has broken international law.” 

Albanese’s main opponent in the 2025 election campaign, Liberal Party leader Peter Dutton, said in a press conference that Putin was “not welcome in our neighborhood.”