Indonesia has officially become a full member of the BRICS bloc, joining Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, along with recent members Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates.
This strategic move underscores Indonesia's commitment to enhancing multilateral cooperation and amplifying the voice of the Global South in international affairs. As Southeast Asia's largest economy, Indonesia's inclusion is expected to bolster BRICS' collective economic influence, representing over 51% of the global population and 40% of global GDP.
However, Indonesia's membership has raised concerns among Western nations, particularly regarding its alignment with China and Russia, which are perceived as oppositional to Western interests. The Indonesian Foreign Ministry has clarified that the country seeks to amplify the Global South's voice while maintaining an independent foreign policy to benefit national stability, peace, and prosperity.
In response to these concerns, Indonesia is strengthening maritime cooperation with Japan to balance its international relations. Discussions between Indonesian and Japanese defense ministers have focused on enhancing naval interoperability and advancing maritime capabilities, signaling Indonesia's intent to maintain balanced relations with global powers.
Looking ahead, Indonesia is poised to play a pivotal role in BRICS initiatives aimed at developing alternative payment mechanisms to reduce reliance on the US dollar for trade among member nations. This agenda, heavily discussed during the 2024 Kazan summit in Russia, aims to enhance financial sovereignty among BRICS countries.
The upcoming BRICS summit, scheduled for July 2025 in Rio de Janeiro, will serve as a critical platform for Indonesia to integrate fully into the group's ambitious discussions on sustainable development, alternative trade mechanisms, and enhancing geopolitical influence.
What impact do you think Indonesia's BRICS membership will have on its relationships with Western nations and its role in global economic governance?
๐๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ฑ๐ฎ๐ถ๐น๐ ๐ฎ๐๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ถ๐ฐ ๐ป๐ฒ๐๐ ๐๐ฝ๐ฑ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐, ๐ณ๐ผ๐น๐น๐ผ๐, ๐น๐ถ๐ธ๐ฒ, ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ! ๐ง๐ต๐ฎ๐ป๐ธ๐ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ด, ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐๐๐ฎ๐ ๐๐๐ป๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐บ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐๐ฝ๐ฑ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฎ๐น๐๐๐ถ๐.
Source: ETHNews