Indonesia joins BRICS as 10th full member

• Published On: 07 January 2025 at 20:54

On Monday, Indonesia officially joined the BRICS group of developing economies as the tenth full member, marking a significant expansion of the bloc.

Brazil, which currently holds the BRICS presidency through 2025, made the announcement.

"The Brazilian government welcomes Indonesia's membership in the BRICS," it said in a statement.

"With the largest population and economy in Southeast Asia, Indonesia shares with other members a commitment to reforming global governance institutions and contributes positively to deepening South-South cooperation."

The leaders of the BRICS endorsed Indonesia's candidature for membership in August 2023, according to the Brazilian Foreign Ministry.

However, Indonesia delayed formal accession until the formation of its newly elected government, indicating a strategic approach to ensuring alignment with domestic and international priorities.

To commemorate Indonesia's accession to BRICS, the Foreign Affairs Ministry in Jakarta issued a statement stating, "This achievement demonstrates Indonesia's increasingly active role in global issues and commitment to strengthening multilateral cooperation to create a more inclusive and equitable global structure."

The BRICS group, formed in 2009, takes its name from its founding members: Brazil, Russia, India, and China. South Africa joined the bloc in 2010.

In 2024, BRICS expanded significantly by welcoming Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, and the United Arab Emirates as new members, a watershed moment in the alliance's growth and influence.

The BRICS bloc was formed as a counterweight to the Group of Seven (G7), a grouping of developed economies that included the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, and Japan.

BRICS seeks to challenge the G7's dominance in global economic and political affairs, advocating for increased representation and equity for emerging and developing countries in the international system.

Prior to Indonesia's accession, BRICS accounted for 46% of the world's population and 35% of its GDP.