BRICS Heads / Credit: WikiCommons

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News

JAKARTA (Worthy News) – Indonesia, the world’s largest Muslim nation, has become the newest member of BRICS, the group of developing nations named after its initial members Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, Worthy News established Tuesday.

Brazil, which holds the bloc’s presidency in 2025, said the members approved Indonesia’s entry “by consensus” as part of an expansion push initially approved at the bloc’s 2023 summit in Johannesburg.

The move is part of efforts to expand the group as an alternative to the perceived U.S.-led global order ahead of Donald J. Trump’s inauguration as the 47th president of the United States on January 2.

BRICS previously added Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, and the United Arab Emirates to its ranks. Nations like Thailand and Malaysia have also expressed interest in joining.

Brazil’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs noted that Indonesia, Southeast Asia’s largest economy, asked to join BRICS following last year’s presidential election. President Prabowo Subianto took office in October.

“Indonesia shares with the other members of the group support for the reform of global governance institutions and contributes positively to the deepening of cooperation in the Global South,” the Brazilian government stressed.

GLOBAL SOUTH

Officials said that during its presidency, Brazil seeks to increase cooperation between countries of the “Global South” and reform multilateral institutions.

According to the government of left-wing President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, one of the objectives is the “development of means of payment” to facilitate trade between member countries.

Worthy News documented that during the last BRICS summit in Kazan, Russia, in November 2024, member nations discussed boosting non-dollar transactions and strengthening local currencies.

However, U.S. President-elect Trump condemned the move and threatened the group’s members with “100 percent tariffs” if they undercut the American dollar.

This year’s BRICS summit will occur in Rio de Janeiro in July.

With Indonesia joining, the incoming Trump administration is due to remain on its guard as it rolls out its “America First” policies in domestic and international affairs.

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