Indonesia has officially joined BRICS as a full member, further expanding the bloc of leading emerging economies, which comprises Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. The announcement was made by Brazil's government on Monday, marking a significant milestone in BRICS' ongoing expansion.

Observers argue that the addition of Indonesia, the world's fourth most populous country, reflects its desire to enhance the influence of emerging nations and promote the interests of the Global South. The decision to approve Indonesia's membership was made by consensus among the member states during the 2023 BRICS summit in Johannesburg.

Brazil, set to preside over the bloc in 2025, noted that Indonesia delayed its official entry until after its recent presidential election, which saw President Prabowo Subianto take office in October.

"Indonesia shares with the 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," Brazil's government stated. 

Strengthening Global South

The move follows the bloc's recent expansion to include Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates, signaling its ambition to create a broader coalition of nations advocating for equitable global governance.

The expansion has raised concerns among Western countries, particularly the United States. On November 30, US President-elect Donald Trump threatened to slap 100% tariffs on BRICS countries if they did not abandon plans to move towards de-dollarization.

That same month, Indonesia, along with two other Southeast Asian countries, Thailand and Malaysia, assumed the status of BRICS partners.

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