REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Indonesia has formally applied to join the BRICS economic bloc. Foreign Minister RI Sugiono stated that the desire to join is a form of national foreign political representation based on active free values.
Sugiono said this during the BRICS Plus High-Level Conference (Summit) in Kazan, Russia, on Thursday (24/10) local time.
“(RI joining BRICS) does not mean that we belong to any particular camp, but rather that we actively participate in all forums,” Sugiono stressed, as stated by the Indonesian Cabinet received in Jakarta on Friday.
BRICS is an acronym for Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, abbreviated BRICS. The association stood for about a decade. With the passage of time BRICS membership expanded and now consists of 10 members. Among them are Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates.
He said the desire shows that Indonesia sees the BRICS as an appropriate vehicle for discussing and advancing the common interests of the Global South. This statement simultaneously dispelled rumors that Indonesia had turned away from the West and turned to Russia.
To that end, Sugiono proposed three concrete steps to strengthen BRICS cooperation with the countries of the Global South. First, uphold the right to sustainable development so that developed countries must meet their commitments to the developing world.
Furthermore, it supports the reform of the multilateral system so that it is more inclusive, representative and in line with current realities. International institutions must also be strengthened with adequate resources.
Indonesia also encourages the BRICS to be a glue to strengthen solidarity between developing countries, Sugiono said.
In addition, Indonesia's accession to the BRICS is in line with the work program of President Prabowo Subianto's Red and White Cabinet, he said.
“Among other things, related to food and energy security, poverty eradication, or the promotion of human resources,” Sugiono said.
As a bridge builder between developing countries and developed countries, Indonesia is also committed to increasing national involvement in forums other than BRICS, as well as continuing dialogue with developed countries.
“Next month, President (Prabowo Subianto) will attend the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, while I will also be invited to attend the Foreign Ministerial meeting of the G7 expanded session in Fiuggi, Italy,” he said.
Sugiono's visit to Russia to attend the BRICS Plus Summit as Special Envoy of President Prabowo and is his first official visit after being sworn in as Minister of the Republic of Indonesia on Monday (21/10). At the 16th BRICS Summit, Indonesia was officially recognized as a BRICS partner country along with 12 other countries. Southeast Asian countries that are also BRICS partners are Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam.
While on the sidelines, Sugiono also held bilateral meetings with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) Secretary General Hussein Al-Sheikh, Malaysian Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli, as well as officials from other countries.
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