8 January 2025

Indonesia Joins BRICS as Multipolar Bloc Expands

Indonesia has officially been admitted as a full member of the BRICS bloc of developing economies. The group’s presiding country for 2025, Brazil, made the announcement. Brazil’s foreign minister said BRICS leaders endorsed the country’s candidacy in August 2023. Indonesia only opted to join the bloc after the election of a new government last year.

The BRICS group is an association of five of the world’s largest emerging economies; Brazil, Russia, South Africa, China, and India. Now, Indonesia, the fourth most populous country in the world, joins the group. The bloc already represents almost 40 percent of the world’s population.

It is largely positioned as a counterbalance to the G7. That group consists of advanced economies like the United States, United Kingdom, and Japan.

Their agenda advocates for a more multipolar world, essentially meaning more countries should be able to have a say in world affairs and global governance. They often challenge Western institutions like the World Bank and the IMF, with alternatives like the New Development Bank, and advocate for increased south-south cooperation.

Brazilian government welcomed Indonesia to the BRICS group

A statement released by the Brazilian government welcomed Indonesia to the group, saying, “The Brazilian government welcomes Indonesia’s entry into the BRICS.” They added, “With the largest population and economy in Southeast Asia, Indonesia shares with other members a commitment to reforming global governance institutions and contributes positively to deepening South-South cooperation.”

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Indonesia said in a statement, that the country’s entrance to the group, reflects Indonesia’s increasingly active role in global affairs, and its commitment to solidifying multilateral cooperation.

Indonesia has formally joined the BRICS group, a bloc of emerging economies featuring Russia, China and others that is viewed as a counterweight to the West https://t.co/WArU5O2PfT pic.twitter.com/IQKmPOJqlS

— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) January 7, 2025

They said, “Indonesia views its membership in BRICS as a strategic step to increase collaboration and cooperation with other developing countries, based on the principles of equality, mutual respect, and sustainable development.”

BRICS continue to expand their influence

Since the group’s founding in 2010, they have expanded their influence beyond Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. The group embraced more countries in 2024, such as Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, and the United Arab Emirates. Saudi Arabia has been invited to join the bloc but has not done so.

China also welcomed Indonesia’s presence in the group. In a statement, the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman, Guo Jiakun said, “China warmly welcomes and congratulates Indonesia”. The Chinese foreign ministry also described Indonesia as a major developing economy, that will be important for the global south.