The beginning of 2025 marked Indonesia’s official accession to BRICS as a full-fledged member.
“The fruit of Indonesia’s decades-long diplomacy”
Describing the accession, Indonesia’s Foreign Minister Sugiono called it “a tangible expression of the principles of an independent and active foreign policy”, “a testament to Indonesia’s authority on the international stage”, and “not a spur-of-the-moment decision, but the result of decades of national diplomatic achievements”. He believes this milestone opens attractive prospects for the “Land of a Thousand Islands” to contribute to strengthening cooperation between Pacific Asia and the broader developing world. Additionally, it reinforces Indonesia’s role in multilateral diplomacy by building bridges between BRICS and other international organizations and forums, such as the G20, APEC, and MIKTA. This move could also bolster Indonesia’s bid to join the OECD, where it has already submitted an application.
The Vice-Chairman of the Indonesian Parliament, E. Suparno, does not hold back in his high praise of the event. According to him, “BRICS membership is a strategically significant step for Indonesia to enhance its influence on the global stage.” It will help ensure that the country is taken seriously worldwide and will allow it to achieve its goal of increasing economic growth to 7–8% annually by expanding export markets. He also expects BRICS to offer promising opportunities in terms of technology transfer and attracting investments across a wide range of sectors in the national economy, from infrastructure to renewable energy development.
Deputy Chairman of Indonesia’s National Economic Council M. E. Pangestu, in turn, highlighted the significance of the global dedollarization process, to which BRICS has made substantial contributions. Even threats from U.S. President-elect Donald Trump regarding sharp tariff increases on countries that dare to move away from the dollar do not seem to affect Indonesia. As Pangestu rightly pointed out, dedollarization is a gradual yet objective and inevitable process for the world.
Overall, many Indonesian politicians, financiers, and experts see BRICS as a platform that aligns with their vision of the world. Whether it’s increasing their role in “global governance”, creating new export opportunities for mining products, or pursuing independent financial policies, BRICS resonates deeply with Indonesia’s aspirations. One notable “bonus” of BRICS membership is the increased convenience of currency settlements between member states, which simplifies export and import operations.
A Historical Foundation
It is worth noting that Indonesia had already participated in the BRICS+ format during the group’s annual summit in 2023. The official application for membership was submitted in 2024, during Russia’s BRICS chairmanship. According to Foreign Minister Sugiono, the approval process took less than three months.
Indonesia’s aspiration for BRICS membership, along with the positive response it received domestically after the application’s approval, has deep historical roots. Indonesia is a leader of the Global South, with a strong and rapidly developing economy. As such, it is crucial for the country to remain at the forefront of the non-Western world, fostering industrial and investment cooperation with Russia, India, China, and countries in Africa and the Middle East. In the history of international relations, Indonesia is recognized as one of the pillars of the Non-Aligned Movement. Its contemporary foreign policy focuses on addressing regional issues multilaterally and amplifying the voice of the Global South on international platforms.
By the Numbers
Indonesia’s leadership in the “developing world” is based on tangible economic achievements. It ranks 16th globally in GDP, with a steadily growing economy, increasing exports, and a positive trade balance. Geopolitically, Indonesia is a classic “maritime power”. Its geography and location have shaped the lifestyle and economic structure of Indonesians – reflected in the dominant role of the fishing industry, diverse seafood cuisine, and its status as the world’s second-largest fish producer. Indonesia’s geography also influences its external relations, as Indonesians naturally became skilled sailors and traders, while the navy holds a prominent position within the country’s armed forces.
Indonesia is often called the “Land of a Thousand Islands” – a term that is far from an exaggeration. In fact, it might even be an understatement! Depending on classification criteria, the number of islands ranges from over 14,000 to 18,000. The country boasts an impressive land area (1.9 million square kilometers), a population exceeding 278 million, diverse cultures, and abundant natural resources.
They maneuvered skilfully
…And continue to do so successfully. Modern Indonesia, though unofficially, adheres to a principle of neutrality in foreign policy. It does not join any military-political alliances, and there are no foreign military bases on its vast territory. Another key pillar of its policy is multivector diplomacy. The country prefers to maintain stable and mutually beneficial relations with various centers of power: Russia, the United States, China, India, the European Union, Australia, and Japan. This approach applies to trade and economic ties, humanitarian initiatives, and even military-technical cooperation.
Indonesia’s accession to BRICS during Russia’s chairmanship is far from coincidental. The two countries have already become stable and significant strategic partners for one another. Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs welcomed Indonesia’s inclusion in BRICS as a full-fledged member. It was officially noted that Jakarta’s candidacy had been presented and preliminarily approved as part of the “first wave” of the bloc’s expansion at the Johannesburg summit in 2023. Subsequently, after the principles, standards, criteria, and procedures for BRICS expansion were formalized, Indonesia’s application received unanimous support from all member states. Indonesia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in turn, expressed gratitude to the Russian side for its support of Indonesia’s candidacy during the accession process.
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It is worth noting that with Indonesia’s inclusion, BRICS now represents over 40% of the world’s population. Moreover, the bloc has gained yet another strong player on the global stage – a powerful regional power with a unique culture and a growing economy. The continued rise in BRICS’ popularity among Global South countries can be expected, as well as initiatives from Indonesia within the group, which will likely emerge in the near future.
Ksenia Muratshina, PhD in History, Senior Research Fellow at the Center for Southeast Asia, Australia and Oceania of the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences