Indonesian naval officials confirmed Monday that an American military vessel traveled through the Malacca Strait during the weekend, noting the ship’s passage complied with established international maritime regulations.
The warship made its journey through the strategic waterway on Saturday, April 18, according to First Admiral Tunggul, a spokesperson for Indonesia’s Navy, who spoke with Reuters.
U.S. military officials at Indo-Pacific Command identified the vessel as the USS Miguel Keith, stationed in Japan. Navy Commander Matthew Comer described the ship’s activities as “conducting routine operations in U.S. 7th Fleet.”
While Comer declined to reveal the warship’s intended destination, citing standard Navy security protocols regarding future vessel movements, he noted the ship had completed maintenance work in South Korea during early April.
According to U.S. Navy specifications, the USS Miguel Keith measures 240 meters in length and serves as an adaptable floating headquarters capable of deploying helicopters and smaller watercraft, housing military personnel, and providing command operations support.
The Malacca Strait spans 900 kilometers and serves as a vital commercial corridor connecting Asian markets with Middle Eastern and European trading partners, handling approximately 25% of global trade shipments.
“Any vessel including warships transiting in the waters has rights of transit passage which can be exercised in a strait used for international navigation or international shipment,” Indonesia’s Navy spokesman said.
Indonesian naval authorities emphasized that while all ships have transit rights through the waterway, they must honor Indonesia’s status as a coastal nation and follow International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, Tunggul stated.
