A First for ASEAN: Indonesia Joins BRICS, Reshaping Regional Economics

Indonesia became the first ASEAN nation to join the BRICS alliance, opening the doors for greater integration of the Global South on Jan. 7, 2025. BRICS, which was formed in 2009, recently expanded its membership by accepting Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates in 2024. Now, in 2025, it has welcomed Indonesia.

Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, center front, during the opening session of the First Sherpa Meeting in preparation for the July BRICS meeting in Brazil, at Itamaraty Palace, in Brasilia, Brazil. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)

Indonesia was one of 13 countries invited to become a BRICS partner, alongside three other ASEAN member states—Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam. Although BRICS leaders extended an invitation for Indonesia to join in 2023, they feared it might conflict with the country’s non-alignment policy. However, the current president of Indonesia, Prabowo Subianto, prioritized joining BRICS immediately after taking office in October 2024

Criticism of Indonesia’s BRICS membership largely stems from concerns that it may shift away from its non-alignment principle, potentially appearing to favor China and Russia over the US. However, Indonesia’s Foreign Minister Sugiono defended the decision, stating that the membership is “an embodiment of Indonesia’s independent and active foreign policy” and aims to “bridge the interests of developing countries and the Indo-Pacific region.” To further emphasize Indonesia’s commitment to maintaining its non-aligned stance and free foreign policy, Sugiono has expressed the country’s future interest in joining the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), which includes Western nations.

As the largest economy and most populous country in Southeast Asia, Indonesia’s BRICS membership can be seen as a strategic move to enhance collaboration and partnerships with other developing nations that share similar developmental goals. President Subianto’s target of achieving an 8% GDP growth—which would place Indonesia among the world’s fastest-growing economies—could be supported through partnerships fostered by this alliance.

The membership offers significant advantages for Indonesia. It provides access to markets in Asia, Africa, and Latin America, expanding the country’s trade relationships. It also opens avenues for securing low-cost financing through the New Development Bank (NDB), which prioritizes infrastructure development among member nations. With BRICS representing nearly a third of global GDP, the bloc could drive growth in key sectors such as energy, manufacturing, and technology—critical contributors to Indonesia’s economic expansion.

Many Western countries relied on their own crops like soybean and corn for cooking, until major retailers discovered the cheap oil from Southeast Asia had almost magical qualities. (AP Photo/Binsar Bakkara)

In 2024, Indonesia’s trade with BRICS nations totaled $150 billion, even though it was only a partner country at the time, underscoring the bloc’s significance as a key trading partner. Indonesia’s key exports to BRICS countries include palm oil, coal, natural gas, and rubber, while its main imports are machinery, electronics, and chemicals. Additionally, Indonesia aims to import oil from Russia while maintaining strong trade relations with the bloc. The primary benefits of BRICS membership for Indonesia include infrastructure development, technology transfer, industrial growth, and most importantly, trade diversification.

The success of Indonesia’s BRICS membership depends on the country’s ability to implement structural reforms and navigate geopolitical complexities while ensuring the alliance translates into tangible economic gains.

Following Indonesia’s lead, both Malaysia and Thailand have begun the process of joining BRICS. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s visit to India signaled continued interest, while Thailand is also pursuing OECD membership—like Indonesia—as a way to uphold its nonaligned policy and maintain neutrality. However, Vietnam, which had been invited to join BRICS as a partner country, has remained hesitant, wary of the Trump administration’s stance on the bloc.

Regardless, Indonesia’s membership in BRICS—and the potential future memberships of other Southeast Asian nations, as well as Turkey and Azerbaijan, which have formally applied, along with partner countries like Cuba, Uganda, and Uzbekistan—would advance BRICS’ long-term goal of increasing its global economic influence, with aspirations to dominate the world economy by 2050.