BRICS Expands to Include Indonesia as Newest Full Member
The BRICS bloc of emerging economies has officially welcomed Indonesia as its newest full member during the 2025 summit in Rio de Janeiro. This expansion brings the total number of nations in the group to eleven. The inclusion of Indonesia, a major Southeast Asian economy, further enhances the bloc's global standing, which now accounts for approximately 40% of global GDP and nearly half of the world's population, signaling a continued shift in the geopolitical landscape.
Unpacked:
Indonesia pursued BRICS membership to diversify its economic partnerships, access the New Development Bank for infrastructure funding, and support ambitious domestic growth targets. The move also aligns with Indonesia's vision of supporting a multipolar world and increasing the influence of developing nations in global governance, especially after a new government was established in 2024.
Indonesia expects increased foreign direct investment, expanded trade opportunities, access to more diverse sources of loans, and technological and industrial collaboration. Membership provides financial independence by reducing reliance on the U.S. dollar and enables Indonesia to leverage its natural resources in strategic partnerships, particularly in renewable energy and electric vehicles.
With Indonesia as the largest Southeast Asian economy joining BRICS, the bloc’s economic and demographic weight increases significantly. This enhances BRICS’s credibility as a representative of emerging economies, strengthens its push for a multipolar world order, and may improve intra-BRICS cooperation in trade, finance, and technology.
Indonesia may encounter challenges harmonizing its policies with diverse BRICS members, balancing its ASEAN leadership with new alliances, and adapting to the bloc’s push for financial autonomy from Western systems. Ensuring domestic stability and meeting high expectations for growth and reform within BRICS could also be demanding.