Jakarta refuses to receive US spy planes

SANAA, Oct. 20 (YPA) – Officials in Jakarta on Tuesday rejected a request from Washington to deploy US spy planes on Indonesian territory.

Reuters quoted four officials, who described them as “senior,” without naming them, that the US request was to allow B-8 Poseidon naval surveillance aircraft to land and refuel in Indonesia.

The sources explained that US officials made multiple “high-level” contacts in this regard in July and August with Jakarta, specifically with the ministers of defense and foreign affairs, before President Joko Widodo rejected the request

Officials said the proposal surprised the Government of Indonesia because the country has long been neutral in foreign policy.

Indonesia has never allowed foreign armies to operate on its territory accordingly.

Representatives for the US Department of Defence and Indonesia’s foreign minister Retno Marsudi declined to comment.

E.M