Recent global dynamics suggest a redistribution of economic, trade,\ntechnology, energy, and political power toward regions long considered\nperipheral.<\/p>\n
After decades of being mere subjects of international regimes and\nregulations, developing countries are rising, demanding a greater role\nin shaping the direction of global affairs.<\/p>\n
BRICS itself reflects that shift. Initially comprising Brazil,\nRussia, India, China, and South Africa, the evolving economic alliance\nnow counts 11 members, including Indonesia.<\/p>\n
The expanded bloc represents nearly half of world\u2019s population,\naccounts for 40 percent of global GDP, and covers 26 percent of world\ntrade.<\/p>\n
Representing a proud nation, Prabowo brought more than a routine\nagenda to the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi in mid-September 2026. He\nsought to leverage the alliance for Indonesia\u2019s national interests.<\/p>\n
The president returned to the high-level forum after attending\nIndonesia\u2019s inaugural BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 2025, only\nmonths after the country secured a permanent seat in the group that\nyear.<\/p>\n
A year later, Prabowo sent a clear message that Indonesia seeks to\nplay an active role as a member state, refusing to be a mere name on the\nattendance list.<\/p>\n
BRICS is constantly evolving, with a growing number of members\nbringing diverse interests and redefining its policy directions. Beyond\nits collective strength, the grouping now faces the challenge of\ntranslating its potential into concrete cooperation.<\/p>\n
Prabowo acknowledged that reality, urging member countries to move\nbeyond statements or documents and align their respective advantages to\namplify the Global South\u2019s voice in global affairs.<\/p>\n
His perspective dovetailed with India\u2019s theme for its 2026 BRICS\npresidency: \u201cBuilding for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation, and\nSustainability\u201d. New Delhi placed the theme into the two primary\nsessions of the 18th BRICS Summit.<\/p>\n
Related news: Prabowo affirms Indonesia\u2019s role at 18th BRICS Summit\nin New Delhi<\/p>\n
Indonesia\u2019s priorities<\/p>\n
Indonesia\u2019s interests resonate with the theme\u2019s call for resilience.\nThe country recognizes the urgency of strengthening its capacity against\nexternal shocks as the world grapples with disrupted supply chains,\nclimate change, energy insecurity, and recurring food crises.<\/p>\n
A populous country determined to achieve food and energy\nself-sufficiency, Indonesia sees its best path in rallying like-minded\nnations to build global trade and supply chain systems resilient enough\nto withstand turbulence.<\/p>\n
Prabowo also emphasized the need to spur innovation at the summit. He\nhas highlighted the risks of relying solely on natural resources or the\ndomestic market, calling greater focus on industrialization,\ndownstreaming, digital technology, research, and human resource\ndevelopment.<\/p>\n
Indonesia sees aligning strengths through cooperation as inevitable\nfor BRICS states pursuing progress, especially as the international\nsystem grows increasingly amorphous.<\/p>\n
The country also stresses sustainability, noting global demands for a\nbalance between economic growth and climate change mitigation.<\/p>\n
India offers expertise and experience relevant to Indonesia\u2019s\npriorities. Under its presidency, BRICS is pivoting toward deeper\ncooperation in supply chains, health, innovation, energy, agriculture,\ntechnology, and startup development.<\/p>\n
Showing its resolve, India used the New Delhi summit to introduce\ntechnological innovations across the health, solar energy, robotics, and\nelectric vehicle fields.<\/p>\n
Joining BRICS means wider opportunities for Indonesia to expand its\nmarkets, attract investment, build supply chains, strengthen food and\nenergy security, and gain access to technology and development financing\nschemes.<\/p>\n
The issue is particularly relevant because BRICS is also promoting\nthe use of local currencies in international trade in a move to enhance\ntransaction efficiency while reducing dependence on dominant payment\nsystems or currencies.<\/p>\n
Equally important, the BRICS Summit adopted the New Delhi\nDeclaration, which enshrines member states\u2019 shared commitment to\nstepping up cooperation in trade, food, energy, artificial intelligence,\nand climate action.<\/p>\n
For Indonesia, diversified trade and payment options mean more room\nto engage with partners most suitable for its national interests.\nSeizing this opportunity is essential for the country to navigate the\nimpacts of geopolitical tensions and growing protectionism on global\nsupply chains.<\/p>\n
Staying true to its free and active foreign policy, Indonesia\nrejected the idea that becoming a BRICS member means taking a step away\nfrom other groups.<\/p>\n
The Prabowo administration has made it clear that Indonesia\u2019s goal is\nto diversify its diplomatic options through membership in various\norganizations. This means the country seeks to maintain strong ties with\nmajor economies while also approaching non-traditional partners.<\/p>\n
Related news: Indonesia ready to expand support for global food\nneeds: Prabowo<\/p>\n
Reforms and rapport<\/p>\n
As Prabowo conveyed at the BRICS Summit, Indonesia believes reforms\nin multilateral institutions are necessary to give developing countries\ngreater space in shaping global rules.<\/p>\n
In that context, BRICS can serve as a diplomatic venue where\nIndonesia advances its interests without aligning its foreign policy\nwith any one power.<\/p>\n
The choice makes sense as Indonesia\u2019s ties with India are expanding\nfar beyond trade. Months before the New Delhi summit, Prime Minister\nNarendra Modi paid a state visit to Indonesia.<\/p>\n
He was received by Prabowo, and together they produced 16 cooperation\nagreements spanning trade, investment, strategic industries, health,\nenergy, education, research, technology, and culture.<\/p>\n
Education illustrates the long-term benefits of the relationship.\nIndonesia and India are on the same page about establishing campuses of\nthe Indian Institute of Management and the Indian Institute of\nTechnology in Indonesia while encouraging more Indonesian students to\npursue education in India.<\/p>\n
Indonesia\u2019s relations with India run<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/indonesia-turning-membership-into-global-influence-through-brics-1789404800", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }