Indonesia Wants to Join BRICS, Minister of Foreign Affairs: Form of Free, Active Politics”/>
INDONESIA expressed its desire to join the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) economic group. This was conveyed by Foreign Minister Sugiono at the BRICS Plus Summit meeting in Kazan, Russia, Thursday (24/10) local time.
With this announcement, Indonesia’s process to join as a member of BRICS will begin. Sugiono stated that this desire does not mean that Indonesia follows a certain camp but rather to be active in every forum.
“Indonesia’s joining BRICS is an embodiment of free and active foreign policy. It doesn’t mean we join a certain camp, but rather we participate actively in all forums,” said Sugiono.
Indonesia proposed several concrete steps to strengthen BRICS and Global South cooperation. First, upholding the right to sustainable development, namely developing countries need policy space, while developed countries must fulfill their commitments.
Second, support reform of the multilateral system to make it more inclusive, representative and in line with current realities. International institutions must be strengthened and have adequate resources to fulfill their mandates.
Lastly, be a force for unity and solidarity among Global South countries. It is felt that BRICS can function as a glue to strengthen cooperation between developing countries.
Through BRICS, said Sugiono, Indonesia wants to raise the common interests of developing countries or the Global South. He also conveyed BRICS priorities in line with the Prabowo Subianto government’s agenda.
“We also see that BRICS priorities are in line with the work program of the Red and White Cabinet, including those related to food and energy security, eradicating poverty, or advancing human resources,” added Foreign Minister Sugiono.
“We see that BRICS can be the right vehicle to discuss and advance the common interests of the Global South. However, we are also continuing our involvement in other forums, as well as continuing discussions with developed countries,” he said. (Z-2)
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**Interview with Foreign Minister Sugiono on Indonesia’s Bid to Join BRICS**
**Editor:** Good morning, Minister Sugiono. Thank you for joining us to discuss Indonesia’s recent announcement regarding joining the BRICS economic group.
**Sugiono:** Good morning! Thank you for having me. It’s a pleasure to discuss this important step for Indonesia.
**Editor:** Can you elaborate on Indonesia’s motivations for wanting to join BRICS?
**Sugiono:** Certainly. Indonesia’s desire to join BRICS stems from our commitment to an independent and proactive foreign policy. By joining this economic group, we aim to strengthen our presence on the global stage and engage actively in international discourse. This move reflects our approach to diversifying partnerships and participating in the dynamics of global economic governance.
**Editor:** You mentioned that this does not mean aligning with a specific camp. Can you explain that further?
**Sugiono:** Yes, that’s a crucial point. Joining BRICS is not about choosing sides. It is about embracing a multilateral approach and asserting our right to engage in various international forums. We seek to contribute positively to discussions that impact our region and beyond without being confined to any ideological bloc.
**Editor:** What impacts do you foresee as a result of Indonesia’s membership in BRICS?
**Sugiono:** Our membership in BRICS could lead to enhanced economic collaboration and opportunities for trade, investment, and development. Moreover, it allows Indonesia to share its experiences and learn from other member countries. Being part of BRICS could foster partnerships that drive sustainable growth and innovation within our economy.
**Editor:** Lastly, what are the next steps for Indonesia in this process?
**Sugiono:** The next steps involve formal discussions among current BRICS members, where Indonesia’s candidacy will be evaluated. We are optimistic about this process, and I believe that with proactive engagement, we will be able to move forward effectively.
**Editor:** Thank you, Minister Sugiono, for your insights. We look forward to seeing the development of Indonesia’s role within BRICS.
**Sugiono:** Thank you for having me! I appreciate the opportunity to share our vision with your audience.
About aligning ourselves purely with one bloc. Rather, it is about engaging in all international forums to promote our national interests. Indonesia stands for a free and active foreign policy, allowing us to collaborate across diverse platforms while ensuring our voice as a developing nation is heard. We want to work with both the Global South and developed countries to address shared challenges, such as food security and poverty eradication.
**Editor:** You also mentioned specific proposals to strengthen BRICS and cooperation among Global South countries. Could you share some details on these proposals?
**Sugiono:** Absolutely. Our proposals focus on three main areas: first, upholding the right to sustainable development and ensuring that developing countries have the policy space they need to grow. Second, we support reforming the multilateral system to make it more inclusive and representative of current realities, which involves strengthening international institutions and providing adequate resources for them to fulfill their mandates. Lastly, we aim to enhance unity and solidarity among Global South countries, positioning BRICS as a vehicle for this collaboration.
**Editor:** How do you see Indonesia’s involvement in BRICS aligning with the current government’s agenda?
**Sugiono:** Indonesia’s participation in BRICS aligns well with the government’s key priorities, including food and energy security, poverty alleviation, and fostering human resource development. We believe that engaging with BRICS can effectively amplify the common interests of developing nations, and we are keen to see these priorities reflected in our collaborative efforts on the BRICS platform.
**Editor:** Thank you, Minister Sugiono, for sharing these insights. As Indonesia embarks on this journey to join BRICS, we look forward to seeing how your leadership will shape the country’s foreign relations in the coming years.
**Sugiono:** Thank you for having me. I am optimistic about Indonesia’s future role in BRICS and the potential benefits for our nation and the Global South as a whole.