LINGKARPENA.ID | On January 6, 2025, Brazil officially announced that Indonesia had become a full member of BRICS, the economic alliance consisting of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa (Reuters).
President Prabowo Subianto welcomed the move, stating that Indonesia also decided to join the BRICS financial institution, the New Development Bank (NDB), as part of efforts to enhance cooperation with fellow developing countries (Kompas).
BRICS was formed in 2009 as a platform for emerging economies to promote a fairer global governance structure, reduce the dominance of developed nations in international institutions, and foster cooperation in economic, political, and social fields. Over time, BRICS has grown into an influential bloc representing the voices and interests of the Global South (Kompas).
For Indonesia, BRICS membership offers major strategic benefits. It opens access to new export markets, representing over 40% of the world’s population. The country also gains alternative financing opportunities for infrastructure and development through the NDB, reducing dependency on Western-led financial institutions. Crucially, BRICS provides a platform for Indonesia to gradually reduce reliance on the US dollar in international trade and increase the use of local currencies—steps that could strengthen the rupiah and enhance national economic resilience.
By maintaining its long-standing principle of a free and active foreign policy, Indonesia is poised to play a key role in shaping a more inclusive and balanced global order. Joining BRICS is more than a diplomatic gesture—it is a strategic move that reflects Indonesia’s aspiration to stand as an equal partner among the world’s emerging powers without compromising its sovereignty.
By: Advocate RIKY SIREGAR, SH., International Law Observer
