Indonesia joins BRICS as tenth full member

On January 6, Indonesia officially became the tenth full member of the BRICS group of developing economies, marking a significant expansion of the bloc.

The announcement was made by Brazil, a founding member of BRICS and the current holder of the rotating presidency for 2025, Caliber.Az reports, citing Western media.

"The Brazilian government welcomes Indonesia's entry into the BRICS," the statement read. "With the largest population and economy in Southeast Asia, Indonesia shares the BRICS commitment to reforming global governance institutions and is poised to contribute positively to deepening South-South cooperation."

Indonesia’s candidacy was endorsed by BRICS leaders in August 2023, as confirmed by Brazil’s Foreign Ministry. However, the country delayed its formal accession until the formation of its newly elected government.

In a statement celebrating the achievement, Indonesia’s Foreign Affairs Ministry emphasized the importance of the country's growing role in global issues. "This milestone demonstrates Indonesia's increasingly active participation in global affairs and our commitment to strengthening multilateral cooperation to create a more inclusive and fair global order."

Notably, the BRICS group, originally formed in 2009, comprises Brazil, Russia, India, and China, with South Africa joining the following year. The alliance was designed as a counterbalance to the Group of Seven (G7) developed economies, which include the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, and Japan.

In 2024, the BRICS alliance expanded to include Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, and the United Arab Emirates. Indonesia’s inclusion marks another step in the group's effort to increase its global influence. Prior to Indonesia’s accession, BRICS accounted for 46% of the world's population and 35% of global GDP.

Saudi Arabia has been invited to join the bloc but has yet to accept. Meanwhile, Türkiye, Azerbaijan, and Malaysia have formally applied for membership.

The 16th BRICS summit, hosted by Russian President Vladimir Putin in Kazan, Russia, in October 2024, focused on strengthening local currencies and promoting non-dollar transactions, sparking criticism from U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, who threatened the bloc with "100 per cent tariffs."

Looking ahead, the next BRICS summit is scheduled for July 2025 in Rio de Janeiro, further cementing the group’s role in shaping the future of global economics and governance.

By Khagan Isayev