<img src='https://news.cgtn.com/news/2025-01-18/Why-BRICS-affiliation-is-an-attractive-proposition-for-ASEAN-countries-1Ag9MJ7fwAM/img/60749a01dc2d49f08bf8ad482c05e571/60749a01dc2d49f08bf8ad482c05e571.jpeg' alt='An expanded meeting of BRICS leaders during the 16th BRICS summit in Kazan, Russia, October 23, 2024. /CFP'
Earlier this month, Brazil, which holds the rotating presidency of BRICS, announced Indonesia’s entry as a full member into the grouping. It made Indonesia the first Southeast Asian country to become a full member of BRICS. In a press release issued on January 6, Brazil revealed that Indonesia’s candidacy had been endorsed by the then-BRICS members during the Johannesburg Summit in 2023, when a round of the group’s expansion took place. Due to general elections in the country in 2024, Indonesia decided to wait until the formation of a new government to make a call on the invitation to join BRICS as a full member.
With President Prabowo Subianto entering office in Jakarta in October, the Southeast Asian nation didn’t take long to reach a decision. Indonesia joins the BRICS cooperation framework as its 10th full member of a family of Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia and the United Arab Emirates. Brazil’s announcement may have come as a surprise to many, primarily because Indonesia, along with eight other countries, had gained BRICS partner status at the start of the year following last year’s Kazan Summit. Among those partner countries are two of Indonesia’s fellow members in the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) trading bloc: Malaysia and Thailand. Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Kazakhstan, Nigeria, Uganda and Uzbekistan have also accepted invitations to join BRICS as partner countries, with Nigeria’s participation being confirmed on Friday.
Vietnam, another key ASEAN economy, has also received an invitation for BRICS partner status, although Hanoi hasn’t conveyed its decision yet. The recent developments underscore ASEAN’s prowess in global trade and the rising clout of its member economies. At the same time, the strong representation of ASEAN countries in BRICS has further boosted the significance of the latter in the Global South.
<img src='https://news.cgtn.com/news/2025-01-18/Why-BRICS-affiliation-is-an-attractive-proposition-for-ASEAN-countries-1Ag9MJ7fwAM/img/721b2454f60244bcb57442a188c8eb70/721b2454f60244bcb57442a188c8eb70.jpeg' alt='Indonesia's President Prabowo Subianto attends the third session of the G20 Leaders' Meeting in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, November 19, 2024. /CFP'
As the largest ASEAN economy, the fourth-most populated country in the world, the largest country in the Islamic world in terms of population and a top-10 economy in the world in terms of GDP by purchasing power parity, Indonesia’s importance in global affairs cannot be overstated. Home to over 17,000 islands, some of the world’s busiest maritime trade routes pass through the archipelagic nation. The critical role of Indonesia in global maritime affairs, in particular, can be gauged from the fact that it shares its maritime frontiers with Australia in the east and India in the west.
From hosting the historic Bandung Conference in 1955 to helping establish the Non-Aligned Movement six years later, Indonesia has also long been one of the most important voices in the Global South. With a rising economy, projected to be the fourth largest in the world in the next two to three decades, the country’s pivotal place in a multipolar world has been further strengthened with BRICS membership.
The Golden Indonesia 2045 Vision, under which the country aims to become a developed economy by 2045 on the completion of 100 years of its independence, will see Indonesia undertake major economic projects in the coming years. Being able to access new avenues of trade and finance through its BRICS membership, including but not limited to institutions like the New Development Bank, will offer Indonesia more options to advance its ambitions of economic prosperity.
Indonesia’s willingness to do trade with the rest of the world without the pressure of unilateral measures may have also incentivized it to join BRICS. This was illustrated by a recent comment by Bahlil Lahadalia, Indonesian minister of energy and mineral resources, on the question of energy imports from Russia despite Western sanctions against the latter. “An opportunity to acquire oil from Russia emerged after we joined BRICS. As long as it complies with regulations and presents no issues, why not?” he was quoted as saying at a press conference by Indonesian state news agency Antara last week.
<img src='https://news.cgtn.com/news/2025-01-18/Why-BRICS-affiliation-is-an-attractive-proposition-for-ASEAN-countries-1Ag9MJ7fwAM/img/90044c066a2344daa27fbb746d647b92/90044c066a2344daa27fbb746d647b92.jpeg' alt='Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim delivers a speech at the opening ceremony of the 7th China International Import Expo in Shanghai, November 5, 2024. /CFP'
ASEAN countries have also pushed back against claims that joining BRICS is tantamount to aligning with one “bloc” against another. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim reiterated this point during a speech at the London School of Economics on Friday. “It is through this forward looking and holistic paradigm, that Malaysia came to the strategic decision to join BRICS. It is not, as some of the pundits would like to claim, about Malaysia choosing a side. It is about a clear-sighted recognition of the geopolitical and geoeconomic changes that are happening around us and expanding our options,” he stressed.
Thai Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa made a similar point during an interview with Russia’s TASS news agency in October. “Thailand’s decision to join BRICS reflects our aspirations to strengthen multilateralism, foster cooperation with key emerging economies to amplify the voice of developing countries in global governance, and to take part in shaping a more equitable and open global order,” he said.
Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand have had longstanding relations with BRICS member states over the years. In particular, the three countries have closely cooperated with China on multiple projects under the Belt and Road Initiative. With ASEAN boasting a young, growing population and rising economic prowess, coupled with BRICS fostering stronger cooperation within the Global South, strong Southeast Asian representation in BRICS is set to boost the prominence of both frameworks in an era of rising multilateralism.