Prabowo at 2026 BRICS Summit: United We Stand, Divided We Fall
President Prabowo Subianto emphasised the importance of unity for Global South nations in facing current global challenges. The President delivered this message through the legendary Indonesian proverb, “United we stand, divided we fall,” before world leaders at the 2026 BRICS Summit held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, India, on Saturday (12/9).
In a closed session themed “Inclusive Global Governance and Strengthening Multilateralism,” President Prabowo asserted that the proverb is more than mere rhetoric. For him, the message reflects the spirit of struggle shared by Asian and African nations that has been intertwined for decades.
President Prabowo linked this Indonesian local wisdom to the historic significance of the Asian-African Conference in Bandung. According to him, the spirit that unites developing nations to stand as equals and determine their own destinencies remains relevant amidst the current world order.
“This simple wisdom reflects the spirit that united the Global South nations, those from Asia and Africa, several decades ago in Bandung,” the President stated, according to an official release from the BPMI of the Presidential Secretariat.
He added that Global South nations now stand as equal nations after enduring a long history of struggle against imperialism and colonialism. This unity, he continued, is the key to ensuring the voices of developing nations are more widely heard on the international stage.
President Prabowo believes that by standing together, the reach of developing nations’ voices will be far broader. This is crucial for advocating for a more just, inclusive, and equitable world order.
“We understand that by uniting, our voices will be more heard. Our interests can be better protected and advanced. This lesson remains very important,” he asserted.
Indonesia’s presence at the 2026 BRICS Summit reaffirms the government’s commitment to maintaining national independence while playing an active role in addressing global challenges through robust collaboration between developing nations.
President Prabowo Subianto also highlighted the strategic role of BRICS in strengthening global resilience and UN reform during the summit in New Delhi, India.
BRICS leaders at the New Delhi summit urged Israel to withdraw troops from Lebanon and reaffirmed commitment to Syria’s territorial integrity and the fight against terrorism.
Russian President Vladimir Putin called for greater representation of Asia, Africa, and Latin America in the UN Security Council, alongside reforms for global economic institutions such as the IMF and WTO.
Chinese President Xi Jinping urged BRICS members to play an active role in achieving peace in the Middle East amidst the US-Iran conflict and the global energy crisis.