Indonesia has formally joined the BRICS group, a bloc of emerging economies featuring Russia, China, and others. The move is seen as a counterweight to the West, with Brazil, which holds the rotating presidency, declaring that Indonesia was set to join as a full member. Indonesia’s foreign ministry welcomed the announcement, citing “strategic steps” to improve collaborations and cooperation with other developing nations.
The BRICS group, originally formed in 2009 by founding members Brazil, Russia, India, and China, has expanded to include South Africa, Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, and the United Arab Emirates. The bloc aims to reform global governance institutions and promote sustainable development. Indonesia’s membership is seen as a significant boost to the group’s efforts.
Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva’s government has stated its objective is to develop means of payment for trade between member countries. This move comes after US President-elect Donald Trump threatened 100 percent tariffs on BRICS nations if they replaced the dollar in international trade. However, Brazil aims to boost this effort during its presidency.
Indonesia’s foreign ministry expressed gratitude to Russia, the 2024 BRICS chair, and welcomed the country’s support and leadership in facilitating Indonesia’s joining. The country’s bid to join the bloc was approved during a summit in 2023 in Johannesburg. With this membership, Indonesia aims to strengthen multilateral cooperation and create a more inclusive global structure.
Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/1/7/indonesia-joins-brics-group-of-emerging-economies