STRANGER THINGS?
Moreover, Prabowo is keen to strengthen bilateral relations with Russia, including defence ties. As defence minister and president-elect, Prabowo visited Russia four times, most recently in July 2024. In February 2025, Sergei Shoigu, Russia’s former defence minister and now secretary of the Russian security council, visited Jakarta.
According to Janes, it was either at that meeting, or shortly thereafter, that Russia made the request to use the air base on Biak Island.
Intriguingly, there could also be a link between the 2017 visit by Russian strategic bombers to Biak and the recent Janes story.
As noted, it was unclear why Indonesia had agreed to host the refuelling mission. At the time, however, Indonesia and Russia were negotiating the sale of 11 Su-35 fighter aircraft for US$1.14 billion. As part of that deal, Russia may have requested access to Manuhau Air Base (Russia has a similar agreement with Vietnam for naval and air deployments to Cam Ranh Bay).
The Su-35 deal was signed in 2018 but collapsed three years later, allegedly due to the threat of US sanctions. But under Prabowo, the procurement of Russian fighter aircraft may now be back on the table. Did Moscow push the envelope by offering Indonesia a discount on the aircraft in return for landing rights on Biak?
At the end of the day, due to sovereignty concerns and Indonesia’s foreign policy principles, it was always unlikely that Indonesia would agree to Russia’s request. But stranger things have happened.
Ian Storey is a senior fellow at ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute. This commentary first appeared on ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute’s blog, Fulcrum.
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