Brazil announced yesterday that Indonesia has become a full member of BRICS, a bloc of developing countries increasingly seen as a counterweight to the West.
The Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated in a statement that the most populous country in Southeast Asia "shares with other members the will to reform global governance institutions and contribute positively to cooperation within the Global South."
Brazil, which takes over the group's rotating chairmanship in 2025, said Indonesia's bid to join the bloc was approved during the 2023 summit in Johannesburg.
BRICS was founded in 2009 by Brazil, Russia, India and China, while South Africa joined the following year.
Last year, Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia and the United Arab Emirates became full members. Saudi Arabia has been invited to join but has not yet done so.
Turkey, Azerbaijan and Malaysia have officially applied for membership, while several other countries have expressed interest.
During his presidency, Brazil aims to improve cooperation between the countries of the Global South and reform multilateral institutions.
One of the goals, according to the government of leftist President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, is to "develop means of payment" to facilitate trade between BRICS members.
During the last BRICS summit in Kazan, Russia, in November 2024, members discussed increasing transactions without payment in dollars and strengthening local currencies.
This drew the ire of US President-elect Donald Trump, who threatened BRICS members with "100 percent tariffs" if they undermined the US dollar.
This year's BRICS summit will be in July in Rio de Janeiro.
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