Jakarta: Indonesia has assured that no Russian military aircraft will be stationed in Papua, the country's easternmost province, as confirmed by Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles. Marles communicated with his Indonesian counterpart, Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, who dismissed reports about Russia seeking to position long-range aircraft at an airbase near the Australian city of Darwin.

According to Anadolu Agency, Marles' statement came after Australian opposition leader Peter Dutton raised concerns during the parliamentary election campaign. Dutton referenced a report by defense publication Janes, which claimed Russia had requested to station warplanes at Manuhua Air Force Base in Biak Numfor, Papua, approximately 1,300 kilometers from Darwin.

Indonesia's defense minister assured Marles that the reports suggesting the operation of Russian aircraft from Indonesia were entirely false and stated that Indonesia has no intention of accommodating such operations. Marles also refuted Dutton's assertion that Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto had publicly confirmed Russia's request.

Marles emphasized the risks involved when an alternative prime minister attributed false statements to the Indonesian president. Meanwhile, on Tuesday, Russia's First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov met with President Prabowo in Jakarta to discuss the progress of a free trade agreement, as reported by Antara news agency.

Indonesia's Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, Airlangga Hartarto, mentioned their discussions on the Indonesia-Eurasian free trade agreement and anticipated its completion during a presidential visit to St. Petersburg. Prabowo is expected to visit Russia later this year, having been invited by Manturov to the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, scheduled from June 18-21.