Indonesia is proceeding with cautious determination to join BRICS, despite a warning from U.S. President-elect Donald Trump regarding potential tariff increases on members of the Russia- and China-led coalition if it continues to pursue its aim of creating an alternative to the U.S. dollar in global trade.

During a parliamentary meeting this month with the Indonesian Foreign Ministry, lawmakers voiced their apprehensions about Trump’s threats.

“While we are optimistic about enhancing our diplomatic ties, Indonesia’s involvement in BRICS could be perceived as a shift away from our traditional trade relationships with the U.S. and the European Union,” stated Sumail Abdullah, a legislator from the ruling party involved in foreign affairs. “We must prevent this from becoming a reality, as countries like Russia and China are likely to dominate BRICS.”

Foreign Minister Sugiono defended the decision to join BRICS, emphasizing the numerous advantages of membership.

“BRICS serves as an effective platform for us to advocate for and advance the interests of developing nations. It also reflects our commitment to an independent and proactive foreign policy,” he explained to lawmakers during the session on December 2.

Sugiono emphasized the necessity of enhancing Indonesia’s economy through the establishment of food and energy security, as well as the advancement of downstream industries. He noted that Indonesia should aim to reduce its economic dependence on other nations to gain greater autonomy in shaping its foreign policy.

While the BRICS nations have set a goal to diminish their reliance on the U.S. dollar for transactions, Sugiono mentioned that this topic was not addressed during the BRICS Summit held in October 2024 in Russia.

Nevertheless, the minister indicated a willingness to reassess Indonesia’s position in BRICS if national interests were perceived to be at risk due to external pressures.

“If we identify factors that could jeopardize our national interests, we can reconsider our participation in BRICS. Our engagement in any multilateral organization must prioritize the protection of our national interests,” he stated to the legislators.

Indonesia’s aspiration to join BRICS

BRICS is an international economic collaboration platform established in 2006, aimed at highlighting investment prospects among its founding members: Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.

Indonesia articulated its intention to become part of the bloc during the October summit in Kazan, Russia, where Sugiono outlined several actionable measures to enhance cooperation between BRICS and the Global South.

President Prabowo Subianto has consistently emphasized his desire to cultivate friendly relations with both China and the United States, asserting that Indonesia will refrain from aligning with any military alliances.

Teuku Rezasyah, a diplomacy and foreign policy expert at Universitas Padjadjaran, informed VOA that Indonesia’s participation in BRICS positions the nation at the geopolitical crossroads of competing power blocs.

“We maintain close ties not only with the U.S. and the European Union but are also strengthening our relationships with Russia and China. This diversification enhances our bargaining power, which ultimately benefits us,” he stated during a national seminar.

Teuku noted that the collective vision of BRICS, articulated in a 2021 joint statement, advocates for a reformed global political, economic, and financial system, with an updated United Nations at its core. He believes this vision represents a more equitable, balanced, and representative contemporary world.

Political advantages and challenges

While Indonesia received an invitation to join BRICS in 2022, it only officially indicated its interest this October. Currently, Indonesia holds the status of a BRICS partner country, a designation shared with 12 other nations, including ASEAN members Malaysia, Vietnam, and Thailand.

Teuku remarked that the organization is widely perceived as an effort to establish a geopolitical coalition aimed at countering the dominance of Western-led global institutions like the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.

Muhsin Shihab, a senior advisor on institutional relations at Indonesia’s foreign ministry, noted in November that Indonesia’s participation in BRICS could enhance its international influence and enable it to contribute to the agenda of the Global South.

Conversely, Tobias Basuki, co-founder of Aristoteles Consults, a political consultancy and legal services firm, expressed skepticism in an interview with VOA regarding the benefits Indonesia might derive from joining the bloc. He argued that many of Indonesia’s political and economic objectives could be achieved through bilateral relationships with BRICS nations.

He pointed out that Russia and China stand to benefit more from the expansion of the group’s membership, emphasizing that they have their own agendas and interests that may not always align with those of the Global South.

“By joining BRICS, Indonesia may find itself in a situation where it is entering their domain, which might not provide the leverage that Prabowo seeks as a mediator between these competing powers,” Basuki stated.

He further suggested that if Indonesia aspires to lead the Global South, it would be more advantageous to revitalize the Indonesia-led Asia-Africa conference and the Non-Aligned Movement, which already encompasses 120 countries and truly represents a Global South alliance.

In addition to pursuing BRICS membership, Indonesia is also aiming to join the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, indicating its desire to align with global governance standards and promote economic openness.