Indonesia joins BRICS bloc as full member

The President of Russia Vladimir Putin and the President of Indonesia Prabowo Subianto.
Photo: Journal NEO

Brazil's government said in a statement on Monday that Indonesia is formally joining BRICS as a full member, further expanding the group of major emerging economies that also includes Russia, India, China and South Africa, Reuters reports.

Indonesia, the world's fourth most-populous nation, had previously expressed its desire to join the group as a means of strengthening emerging countries and furthering the interests of the so-called Global South.

Brazil, which holds the bloc's presidency in 2025, said the member states approved Indonesia's entry by consensus as part of an expansion push initially approved at the bloc's 2023 summit in Johannesburg.

The South American nation noted that Indonesia's bid got the green light from the bloc in 2023 but the Asian country asked to join following the presidential election held last year. President Prabowo Subianto took office in October.

"Indonesia shares with the other members of the group support for the reform of global governance institutions, and contributes positively to the deepening of cooperation in the Global South," the Brazilian government said.

Earlier, both Malaysia and Thailand announced that they had formally applied for BRICS membership. Malaysia’s Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli said that the country’s application was “centered on building economic partnerships, strengthening trade ties, and expanding our growth potential.”

Back in May, 2024 Thai government spokesperson Chai Wacharonke said that BRICS membership would “benefit Thailand in many dimensions, including enhancing the country’s role in the international arena and increasing its opportunities to co-create a new world order,” according to the Bangkok Post.

Indonesia and three Southeast Asian neighbors – Malaysia, Vietnam, and Thailand –were among 13 nations that joined yesterday as partner countries, the others being Algeria, Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Kazakhstan, Nigeria, Turkey, Uganda, and Uzbekistan. The BRICS group also includes Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates.

The economies of the current BRICS member states collectively make up about 28 percent of the global economy.

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