Indonesia Joins Brics Bloc As Full Member, Brazil Says

Indonesia w ill formally join BRICS as a full member, Brazils government said on Monday, further expanding the group of major emerging economies that also includes Russia, India, China and South Africa.

Indonesias foreign ministry said in a statement on Tuesday that it welcomed the announcement and that BRICS membership is a strategic way to increase collaboration and partnership with other developing nations.

Indonesia, the worlds fourth most populous nation, had previously expressed its desire to join the group as a means of strengthening emerging countries and furtheri ng the interests of the so-called Global South.

Brazil, which holds the blocs presidency in 2025, said in a statement that member states approved Indonesias entry by consensus as part of an expansion push initially endorsed at t he 2023 BRICS summit in Johannesburg.

The South American nation noted that Jakartas bid got the green light from the bloc in 2023 but the Southeast Asian country asked to join following the presidential election held last year. President Prabowo Subianto took office in October.