A United States warship passed through the Strait of Malacca over the weekend, the Indonesian Navy said on Monday, noting that the transit was in accordance with international law.
The vessel moved through the strait which borders Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore on Saturday, April 18, according to Indonesian Navy spokesperson Tunggul.
The U.S. military confirmed the ship as the USS Miguel Keith, which is based in Japan and operates under the U.S. 7th Fleet.
A spokesperson for the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, Matthew Comer, said the vessel was conducting routine operations and had recently undergone maintenance in South Korea earlier this month.
He did not disclose the ship’s destination, citing U.S. Navy policy on operational security.
Strategic Importance of the Strait
The Malacca Strait, a roughly 900-km-long maritime corridor, is one of the world’s most critical shipping routes, linking Asia with the Middle East and Europe and carrying around a quarter of global trade.
The USS Miguel Keith is described by the U.S. Navy as a 240-metre-long vessel capable of serving as a floating command base, with facilities for helicopters, small boats, and troop accommodation.
Transit in Line with International Law
Indonesia’s Navy said the passage was consistent with international maritime law, which allows vessels including warships to exercise transit rights through straits used for international navigation.
However, it stressed that all vessels must respect the sovereignty of coastal states and comply with international navigation rules, including regulations aimed at preventing collisions at sea.
(with inputs from Reuters)