Jokowi's Status Present At The South African BRICS Summit, Invited Guests

Kenyan President William Ruto released the departure of the President of the Republic of Indonesia, Jokowi at Jomo Kenyatta Airport Nairobi, Monday (23/8/2023). (ANTARA/HO-Biro Press Secretariat)

JAKARTA - The presence of President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) at the BRICS Summit in South Africa is only an invited guest.

"Mr. President was present at this forum to fulfill the invitation as a guest, namely in Indonesia's capacity which is holding the chairmanship of ASEAN," said Deputy for Protocol, Press and Media, Presidential Secretariat Bey Machmudin in a message received, Wednesday, August 23, was confiscated by Antara.

Thus, Bey continued that President Jokowi's presence at the summit which took place in Johannesburg on August 22-24, 2023 was not related to Indonesia's membership in BRICS.

BRICS consisting of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa are groups aimed at promoting dialogue and cooperation for developing countries.

BRICS member countries have a major influence in various collaborations, ranging from economy, military, to geopolitical.

Accumulated, the population of BRICS countries covers 43 percent of the world's population and its trade value reaches 16 percent of global trade.

As the scale of each country as well as the dynamic global political and economic situation, BRICS continues to consolidate itself as a new geopolitical and geoeconomic force to offset the hegemony of Western countries.

More than 40 countries are rumored to want to join BRICS, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Iran, Egypt, Bolivia, Kazakhstan, Cuba, and Argentina.

Indonesia is also said to be interested in joining the alliance that has been established since 2006.

Previously, President Jokowi said he would decide on the possibility of Indonesia joining BRICS.

"It will be decided later," said Jokowi, early last August.

President Jokowi is scheduled to visit South Africa on his first visit to Africa on August 20-25, 2023. South Africa will be the fourth country he visited after Kenya, Tanzania, and Mozambique.