Expert: Indonesia uses BRICS membership to strengthen influence of Global South
At the BRICS Summit in New Delhi, the President of the Republic called on the group to move from statements to concrete initiatives
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Photo source: NatanaelGinting / iStock
Indonesia aims to play an active role in BRICS, rather than simply being another country on the list of members. This was reported by ANTARA.
According to the source, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto made this clear at the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi, which took place on 12–13 September 2026 in the Indian capital. He called on member countries to move beyond mere statements and documents and to pool their strengths to strengthen the voice of the Global South on the world stage.
BRICS now comprises 10 members. The group accounts for almost half the world’s population, 40 per cent of global GDP and 26 per cent of world trade. Indonesia was granted permanent membership of the group in 2025 and participated in the BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro for the first time.
The source reports that at the summit, Prabowo emphasised the need to stimulate innovation. He highlighted the risks of relying solely on natural resources or the domestic market. According to him, greater attention should be paid to industrialisation, deepening processing, digital technologies, research and the development of human resources.
Indonesia, as reported by ANTARA, is keen to strengthen its resilience to external shocks, including disruptions to supply chains, the effects of climate change, energy insecurity and food crises. The country is striving for food and energy self-sufficiency.
Participation in BRICS provides Indonesia with opportunities to expand markets and attract investment. The group also promotes the use of national currencies in international trade.
At the summit, the group’s leaders adopted the New Delhi Declaration. According to the source, it sets out the member states’ commitments to cooperate in the fields of trade, food, energy, artificial intelligence, and climate action.
Indonesia pursues an active foreign policy. Prabowo’s administration states that membership of BRICS does not signify a departure from other groups but serves to diversify diplomatic opportunities.
Furthermore, the article emphasises that relations between Indonesia and India are not limited to trade. A few months before the summit, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid a state visit to Indonesia. The two sides drew up 16 cooperation agreements covering trade, investment, strategic sectors, healthcare, energy, education, research, technology, and culture. Discussions are underway regarding the establishment of campuses in Indonesia for the Indian Institute of Management and the Indian Institute of Technology.
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