The Brazilian government announced, this Monday (6), that Indonesia is the first full member to join Brics in 2025. With the fourth largest population on the planet, the Asian country has more than 284 million inhabitants and has the 10th largest population. largest economy in terms of purchasing power parity, according to the World Bank.
“The Brazilian government congratulates the Indonesian government on its entry into BRICS. Holding the largest population and largest economy in Southeast Asia, 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, priority themes for the Brazilian presidency of BRICS ”, informed the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MRE).
The expectation is that nine countries will formally join Brics this year, among them, Cuba, Bolivia, Malaysia and Thailandwhether as full members or as partners of the group. Brazil assumed the rotating presidency from the international forum on January 1st to December 31st this year.
According to Itamaraty, Indonesia’s candidacy received the group’s endorsement at the Johannesburg summit, in August 2023, in South Africa. However, it was only after the Indonesian presidential elections of 2024 that the interest in participating in Brics became official.
“The BRICS countries, by consensus, approved Indonesia’s entry into the grouping, in line with the guiding principles, criteria and procedures for expanding the membership agreed in Johannesburg,” explained Itamaraty.
In total, 13 countries were invited to participate in BRICS. Nigeria, Türkiye, Algeria and Vietnam are also expected to confirm their participation.
In 2024, the bloc had already received five new effective members, reaching ten countries. Until then made up of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, last year the Brics included Iran, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Ethiopia and Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Arabia, despite not having signed to join the group, has participated in all meetings.
