Russia Reportedly Seeks to Base Strategic Bombers in Indonesia

Reports have emerged that Russia has approached Indonesia with a request to station long-range strategic bombers on its territory. According to Janes, citing unnamed Indonesian officials familiar with the matter, Russian representatives made the proposal in February 2025. While Australian officials say no final decision has been made, the move—if approved—would place Russian strike capabilities, and potentially Chinese assets as well, within striking distance of key U.S. and allied military installations in the region.

Why It Matters

Though concerning for both U.S. and regional policymakers, this development isn’t entirely unexpected. Indonesia sits near a critical maritime chokepoint and lies in close proximity to Australia—a country that has recently strengthened its military ties with the United States, drawing objections from both Russia and China.

Since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, Sino-Russian military cooperation has grown dramatically. Nowhere is this more evident than in the Western Pacific, where Russia has expanded and modernized its long-underfunded Pacific Fleet. As their strategic alignment deepens, joint Sino-Russian operations in the Indo-Pacific have become increasingly common, signaling a coordinated posture that challenges Western influence in the region.