Brazil announces Indonesia as full member of BRICS

Southeast Asian country with largest population, economy in region is first to join group in 2025, now under Brazilian presidency

Published in Jan 06, 2025 08:00 PM Updated in Jan 09, 2025 12:04 PM

Brasil anuncia Indonésia como membro pleno do BRICS

Accession was approved at the Johannesburg Summit in August 2023, and formalized following the formation of the new government - Credit: Getty Images

Brazil announced on Monday, January 6, the official entry of Indonesia as a full member of BRICS, marking the first expansion of the group under the Brazilian presidency, which began on January 1. Indonesia’s membership was approved at the Johannesburg Summit in August 2023 and formalized after the formation of the country's new government, which waited for the conclusion of the presidential elections in 2024 to confirm its interest.

In a statement issued by the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs [Ministério das Relações Exteriores], the government welcomed the country into the group, highlighting Indonesia as “the largest economy in Southeast Asia,” as well as its alignment with BRICS objectives.

“Indonesia shares with the other members of the group the support for the reform of global governance institutions and contributes positively to the deepening of cooperation in the Global South, priority themes for the Brazilian presidency of BRICS, whose motto is Strengthening Cooperation in the Global South for a more Inclusive and Sustainable Governance,” the document emphasizes.

With the country's entry, BRICS now has eleven full members: Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, United Arab Emirates, Ethiopia, Iran and Indonesia.