Jakarta (ANTARA) – Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto once again stood joined fellow BRICS leaders at a time when the global order is no longer shaped solely by a handful of major-economies.
Recent global dynamics suggest a redistribution of economic, trade, technology, energy, and political power toward regions long considered peripheral.
After decades of being mere subjects of international regimes and regulations, developing countries are rising, demanding a greater role in shaping the direction of global affairs.
BRICS itself reflects that shift. Initially comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, the evolving economic alliance now counts 11 members, including Indonesia.
The expanded bloc represents nearly half of world’s population, accounts for 40 percent of global GDP, and covers 26 percent of world trade.
Representing a proud nation, Prabowo brought more than a routine agenda to the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi in mid-September 2026. He sought to leverage the alliance for Indonesia’s national interests.
The president returned to the high-level forum after attending Indonesia’s inaugural BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 2025, only months after the country secured a permanent seat in the group that year.
A year later, Prabowo sent a clear message that Indonesia seeks to play an active role as a member state, refusing to be a mere name on the attendance list.
BRICS is constantly evolving, with a growing number of members bringing diverse interests and redefining its policy directions. Beyond its collective strength, the grouping now faces the challenge of translating its potential into concrete cooperation.
Prabowo acknowledged that reality, urging member countries to move beyond statements or documents and align their respective advantages to amplify the Global South’s voice in global affairs.
His perspective dovetailed with India’s theme for its 2026 BRICS presidency: “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation, and Sustainability”. New Delhi placed the theme into the two primary sessions of the 18th BRICS Summit.
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Indonesia’s priorities
Indonesia’s interests resonate with the theme’s call for resilience. The country recognizes the urgency of strengthening its capacity against external shocks as the world grapples with disrupted supply chains, climate change, energy insecurity, and recurring food crises.
A populous country determined to achieve food and energy self-sufficiency, Indonesia sees its best path in rallying like-minded nations to build global trade and supply chain systems resilient enough to withstand turbulence.
Prabowo also emphasized the need to spur innovation at the summit. He has highlighted the risks of relying solely on natural resources or the domestic market, calling greater focus on industrialization, downstreaming, digital technology, research, and human resource development.
Indonesia sees aligning strengths through cooperation as inevitable for BRICS states pursuing progress, especially as the international system grows increasingly amorphous.
The country also stresses sustainability, noting global demands for a balance between economic growth and climate change mitigation.
India offers expertise and experience relevant to Indonesia’s priorities. Under its presidency, BRICS is pivoting toward deeper cooperation in supply chains, health, innovation, energy, agriculture, technology, and startup development.
Showing its resolve, India used the New Delhi summit to introduce technological innovations across the health, solar energy, robotics, and electric vehicle fields.
Joining BRICS means wider opportunities for Indonesia to expand its markets, attract investment, build supply chains, strengthen food and energy security, and gain access to technology and development financing schemes.
The issue is particularly relevant because BRICS is also promoting the use of local currencies in international trade in a move to enhance transaction efficiency while reducing dependence on dominant payment systems or currencies.
Equally important, the BRICS Summit adopted the New Delhi Declaration, which enshrines member states’ shared commitment to stepping up cooperation in trade, food, energy, artificial intelligence, and climate action.
For Indonesia, diversified trade and payment options mean more room to engage with partners most suitable for its national interests. Seizing this opportunity is essential for the country to navigate the impacts of geopolitical tensions and growing protectionism on global supply chains.
Staying true to its free and active foreign policy, Indonesia rejected the idea that becoming a BRICS member means taking a step away from other groups.
The Prabowo administration has made it clear that Indonesia’s goal is to diversify its diplomatic options through membership in various organizations. This means the country seeks to maintain strong ties with major economies while also approaching non-traditional partners.
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Reforms and rapport
As Prabowo conveyed at the BRICS Summit, Indonesia believes reforms in multilateral institutions are necessary to give developing countries greater space in shaping global rules.
In that context, BRICS can serve as a diplomatic venue where Indonesia advances its interests without aligning its foreign policy with any one power.
The choice makes sense as Indonesia’s ties with India are expanding far beyond trade. Months before the New Delhi summit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid a state visit to Indonesia.
He was received by Prabowo, and together they produced 16 cooperation agreements spanning trade, investment, strategic industries, health, energy, education, research, technology, and culture.
Education illustrates the long-term benefits of the relationship. Indonesia and India are on the same page about establishing campuses of the Indian Institute of Management and the Indian Institute of Technology in Indonesia while encouraging more Indonesian students to pursue education in India.
Indonesia’s relations with India run deeper than economics. When Prabowo and Modi visited Prambanan Temple in July 2026, they saw more than a heritage site.
Prambanan symbolizes ties between Indonesian and Indian civilizations lasting over a millennium. The two nations agreed on the conservation and restoration of the temple complex, adding cultural depth to economic and technological cooperation.
That context was visible when Modi warmly embraced Prabowo upon his arrival at the BRICS Summit, whereas he exchanged only firm handshakes with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Cooperation rests not solely on trade figures or investment values but is built through people-to-people ties, education, culture, and science.
Related news: Indonesia urges BRICS members to leverage shared strengths
Translator: A. Ramadhan, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Bayu Prasetyo
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