Indonesia, Southeast Asia’s largest economy and the world’s fourth-most populous nation, has become the newest member of Brics, the Brazilian foreign ministry announced on Monday.
Brazil serves this year as president of the association comprising major emerging national economies, and a statement from its foreign ministry highlighted Indonesia’s significance to the Global South.
With a GDP of about US$1.4 trillion, a population surpassing 280 million and annual economic growth exceeding 5 per cent for much of the past decade, Indonesia is regarded as one of the most dynamic emerging markets globally, it added.
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“Indonesia shares with other members of the group support for the reform of global governance institutions and contributes positively to the deepening of cooperation in the Global South, priority issues for the Brazilian presidency of Brics,” the ministry said.
Indonesia is the first country to join Brics as a full member since the group opened to expansion during its 2023 summit in Johannesburg, South Africa. Its original members are Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.
Under Russia‘s presidency last year, Brics introduced a “partner countries” category, admitting 11 nations, including Bolivia, Malaysia, Nigeria, Thailand, Turkey, Uganda and Vietnam.
Jakarta had expressed interest in full membership in 2023, but its admission was delayed due to Indonesia’s elections scheduled for 2024.
According to a Brazilian government spokesperson, the process resumed after Indonesia’s new government led by President Prabowo Subianto was formed in October.
“Brics countries, by consensus, approved Indonesia’s entry into the grouping, in accordance with the guiding principles, criteria and procedures for expanding the membership framework agreed upon in Johannesburg,” the Brazilian foreign ministry said.
China’s foreign ministry welcomed Indonesia’s accession as well, saying it was “in line with the common interest of Brics member states and the Global South”.
“As a major developing country and an important force in the Global South, Indonesia highly recognises the spirit of Brics and actively participates in the ‘Brics+’ cooperation,” China’s statement said.
“Indonesia’s official accession … is expected to positively contribute to the development of the Brics mechanism,” it added.
Beijing also said it was ready to work with Jakarta and other members to foster a “more comprehensive, close, pragmatic and inclusive partnership” and to advance “high-quality development of Brics cooperation”.
In recent years, the grouping, which is aimed at seeking alternatives to Western-led institutions, has been leveraged by Beijing and Moscow to forge a multipolar world.
Even without counting Indonesia, Brics represents roughly half the global population and more than 41 per cent of the world’s GDP between its members and partners.
Meanwhile, the US has cast a watchful eye on Brics. President-elect Donald Trump has threatened to impose 100 per cent tariffs on the association if it creates a rival currency to the US dollar.
Additional reporting by Laura Zhou in Washington
This article originally appeared in the South China Morning Post (SCMP), the most authoritative voice reporting on China and Asia for more than a century. For more SCMP stories, please explore the SCMP app or visit the SCMP’s Facebook and Twitter pages. Copyright © 2025 South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.
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