By Chandra Asmara
July 6, 2026 – Indonesia and Singapore have once again committed to keeping the Strait of Malacca open. This promise comes as rising tensions in the Middle East lead to concerns about the freedom of navigation in this crucial maritime route.
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto emphasized the importance of security in the strait, mentioning the need to protect against accidents and piracy during a meeting with Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong in Jakarta on Monday.
The leaders also agreed to work together with other nations in the region to ensure safe passage for vessels, following the guidelines of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
“Both President Prabowo and I agreed that we will do our part, together with the other littoral states, to ensure that the straits of Malacca and the straits of Singapore remain safe, open, and accessible to all,” said Wong.
These statements are meant to ease concerns about the potential introduction of transit fees in the Strait of Hormuz, which raises questions about the governance of international waterways.
The Strait of Malacca, which is bordered by Indonesia, Singapore, and Malaysia, is one of the busiest shipping routes in the world, responsible for over 20% of global seaborne trade. It connects the Indian Ocean to the South China Sea and is the shortest route for Middle Eastern energy supplies to major manufacturing centers in East Asia.
Earlier this year, concerns similar to these arose in Indonesia when Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa suggested that the country might charge ships passing through the strait. However, Foreign Minister Sugiono later retracted those comments, clarifying that Indonesia supports freedom of navigation and is not in a position to impose such fees.