January 9, 2025
JAKARTA – An aide to President Prabowo Subianto said on Tuesday that Indonesia’s full membership in BRICS would not affect the country’s relationship with the United States under the presidency of Donald Trump.
Special Envoy for International Trade and Multilateral Cooperation Mari Pangestu said that despite Indonesia’a accession to BRICS, the country would not be tied down by the bloc and would continue to practice a free and active foreign policy.
“There’s no need to be worried. We have a free and active policy. We can work with multiple parties and we will not stand in the way of the United States’ interests,” Mari was quoted by Antara on Tuesday.
When asked about the possibility of Indonesia being the target of Trump’s ire, especially for the bloc’s plan to boost non-dollar transactions and strengthen local currencies, Mari said that the practice is already underway and there had been no negative response.
“Currently, we already have a system that allows us to trade directly with China [which] involves direct conversion from rupiah to yuan and so far we haven’t received [any] protest regarding the practice,” Mari said.
Indonesia will formally join BRICS as a full member, Brazil’s government said on Monday, further expanding the group of major emerging economies that also includes Russia, India, China and South Africa.
Brazil, which holds the bloc’s presidency in 2025, said in a statement that member states approved Indonesia’s entry by consensus as part of an expansion push initially endorsed at the 2023 BRICS summit in Johannesburg.
The South American nation noted that Jakarta’s bid received the green light from the bloc in 2023, but Indonesia asked to join following the presidential election held last year. President Prabowo 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 said.
