1 jam yang lalu
April 19, 2026 | 04:53 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian Navy (TNI AL) has confirmed the presence of a US warship in the Malacca Strait, stating that the vessel is exercising its right of transit passage in accordance with international law.
First Admiral Tunggul, the spokesperson for the Indonesian Navy, stated that the US warship, the USS Miguel Keith, was detected in the eastern waters of Belawan on Saturday, April 18, 2026, at approximately 15:00 local time. The ship was observed traveling northwest at a speed of 13.1 knots, as recorded by the Automatic Identification System (AIS).
Tunggul noted that the Malacca Strait is a primary waterway for international navigation. He remarked, "The transit passage refers to continuous, expeditious passage through the territorial sea or strait from one part of the high seas or an exclusive economic zone to another."
He added that the presence of the US warship in the Malacca Strait is part of lawful international navigation activities. He stated that the US warship maintains the right of transit passage in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), specifically Articles 37, 38, and 39, a convention which Indonesia has ratified.
The presence of the US warship in the Malacca Strait has come under intense scrutiny following the United States' announcement of operations to hunt down Iranian vessels. The two nations have been at war since the US, in coordination with Israel, launched an attack on Iran at the end of February.
Currently, the United States is implementing a blockade against Iranian ships to exert economic pressure on the Gulf nation. Chairperson of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine stated that forces would pursue Iranian-affiliated ships, even in waters located far beyond the Middle East.
"We will actively pursue any Iranian-flagged vessel or any vessel attempting to provide material support to Iran," Caine said, as quoted by The Jerusalem Post on Saturday, April 18, 2026. General Caine specifically identified the Indo-Pacific region, home to the Malacca Strait, as the area of operation.
Read: Iran Re-Closes Strait of Hormuz Amid Ongoing US Blockade
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