Foreign Minister Sugiono Confirmed Attending BRICS Summit In Russia

Deputy Minister Of Foreign Affairs Arif Havas Oegroseno/ANTARA/Nabil Ihsan

JAKARTA - Indonesian Foreign Minister (Menlu) Sugiono is confirmed to attend the BRICS Summit in Kazan, Russia, on October 22-24.

"The Foreign Minister will go to Kazan," said Deputy Foreign Minister Arif Havas Oegroseno as quoted by ANTARA, Monday, October 21.

Havas said the task that Sugiono had to carry out had made him not yet discussed in-depth the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' work plans in the future.

Foreign Minister Sugiono is also confirmed to be leaving for Russia to attend the conference of the economic bloc consisting of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa together with the Director General of Multilateral Cooperation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Tri Tharyat and other members of the delegation.

Previously, Foreign Minister for the 2014-2024 period Retno Marsudi stated that Indonesian representatives to attend the BRICS Summit would be determined by President Prabowo Subianto.

Prabowo was originally invited to attend the BRICS Summit, Retno said on October 11.

However, Prabowo failed to attend because of the need to handle the transition to government after being inaugurated as President of the Republic of Indonesia together with Gibran Rakabuming Raka as Vice President of the Republic of Indonesia on October 20.

In addition, Indonesia's decision to join BRICS lies with the Prabowo government. "But we continue to provide input to the elected president regarding the BRICS issue," said Retno on September 5.

At that time, Retno admitted that she had communicated with Prabowo Subianto about BRICS when it was recently announced as the winner of the 2024 presidential election.

Retno said that Indonesia itself previously received an invitation to join BRICS during the 15th BRICS Summit (KTT) held in Johannesburg, South Africa, from August 22 to 24, 2023.

However, Indonesia's decision to become a member of BRICS depends on the assessment of economic benefits obtained if it joins the economic bloc.