Australia Urges Indonesia to Consult Amid Russian Base Concerns

Australia signaled lingering unease Thursday over whether Russia may seek access to an air base in eastern Indonesia, stressing that Jakarta has an obligation to consult Canberra on matters affecting regional security.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong was pressed over reports earlier this year that Moscow was looking for entry points in Indonesia’s Papua region, about 870 miles (1,400 kilometers) north of Darwin. Indonesia has publicly ruled out such access, but Wong noted the close ties between Moscow and Jakarta while declining to say whether President Prabowo Subianto offered any clarity on the matter during his visit to Australia this week.