Joining BRICS, Prabowo's Way Of Dealing With US Hegemony

Photo Illustration By Andry Winarko (VOI)

JAKARTA After being delayed in the era of Joko Widodo's administration, Indonesia under the leadership of Prabowo Subianto finally officially expressed interest in joining the BRICS economic organization or block.

The BRICS stands for five influential developing countries, namely Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa (South Africa) in essence aimed at strengthening the voices of developing countries in the presence of the dominance of developed countries, aka the West. In addition to the five founding countries, in January 2024, Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, and the United Arab Emirates decided to join the BRICS.

Indonesia itself has actually received an offer to join the BRICS in 2023. However, Joko Widodo as president at that time decided to review the benefits first and stated that Indonesia did not want to rush to accept the offer.

Indonesia's interest in the Prabowo Subianto era in joining BRICS was revealed after the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sugiono submitted an interest letter or expression of interest at the BRICS Plus Summit (KTT) in Kazan, Russia on Thursday, October 24, 2024.

In her official statement, the Foreign Minister emphasized that Indonesia's intention to join BRICS did not mean 'follow a certain camp', but was an active free foreign policy administration under President Prabowo Subianto.

He explained that the interest in joining BRICS was based on several considerations. First, a sense of solidarity and commitment to global peace, especially the crisis that occurred in Palestine and Lebanon.

Indonesia cannot remain silent when this cruelty continues without anyone being responsible. Indonesia still has the same attitude, calling for a ceasefire in Gaza and realizing peace in the region permanently," said Sugiono.

BRICS Plus 2024 Summit in Kazan (Source: Sergei Bobylev/brics-russia2024.ru Host Photo Agency via Kremlin)

"It's okay"

"It's okay"

"It's okay"

Second, Indonesia and BRICS want to uphold the right to sustainable development, where developing countries need policy space, while developed countries must fulfill their commitments.

Third, it becomes a force for unity and solidarity among developing countries. The joining of Indonesia to BRICS is an active free national political embodiment. It does not mean that we join certain camps, but we actively participate in all forums,' said Sugiono.

"We also see that BRICS' priorities are in line with the work program of the Red and White Cabinet, including related to food and energy security, eradicating poverty or advancing human resources," he continued.

BRICS Is A KAA And GNB Transformation Against US Hegemony

So, what exactly is BRICS? In 2001, Goldman Sachs economist Jim O'Neill used the abbreviation BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India, and China) in a report predicting that the four countries will become the main economic powers by 2050.

Brazil, Russia, India, and China then held their first summit in Yekaterinburg, Russia in 2009. South Africa later joined BRIC in 2010 and began to fully participate in the summit in 2011 so that its name changed to BRICS.

International Relations Observer Musa Maliki assesses that BRICS is currently a new transformation of resistance to Western hegemony since the Asia-Africa Conference and the Non-Aligned Movement that has been suspended. Therefore, Indonesia's goal to join BRICS is referred to as President Prabowo Subianto's effort to avoid dependence on any country, especially developed countries.

BRICS is an independent spirit consisting of South countries to balance Western dominance or the US hegemony. In other words, BRICS is a movement or cooperation between South-South countries (evolved) to come forward together to help each other in facing many challenges of the global crisis," he explained.

According to him, there will be several concrete benefits that will be obtained if Indonesia joins BRICS The first is access to intense trade flows to avoid a global crisis. Second, the economic embargo of developed countries will not work on BRICS countries so that the economy is strong. "The circulation of the world's political economy has become more balanced between North and South countries so that the economy does not rotate ten percent in developed countries alone," added Musa.

He also stated that the desire to join the BRICS shows that the Prabowo Subianto administration has postponed its intention to join the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) or the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development proposed in April 2024. This is because countries wishing to become members of the OECD must be accepted and approved by a total of 38 existing OECD members including Israel.

In addition to Indonesia's affirmation not to open diplomatic relations with Israel, especially with the ongoing situation of Israeli atrocities in Gaza, the OECD is seen as a group of states that are still strong in driving a global economy of ten percent.

"I think Prabowo is convinced of BRICS rather than joining the OECD, because Indonesia's national interests are more fitting to BRICS, both from an economic, political, and social perspective. BRICS for Indonesia is a new vehicle that is relevant during the global crisis in the Western world," said Musa.

He emphasized that Indonesia's joining with BRICS does not conflict with active free politics. The reason is, BRICS is actually an independent spirit consisting of South countries to balance Western domination or the US hegemony. Indonesia also took part as a member of 215 international organizations. Because of the entry of BRICS and then Indonesia did not carry out active free politics," he said.

Indonesia Must Avoid Dependence On China

Meanwhile, Indostrategic Executive Director Ahmad Khoirul Umam believes that Indonesia's intention to join BRICS is a form of middle road diplomacy and a more inclusive attitude in the international world after previously taking care of accession to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).

However, Indonesia must also be prepared to face the impacts that will arise if it officially joins BRICS, including tensions in relations with western countries, such as the US and its allies. "Party with non-barat international alliances will result in a somewhat suspicious character of the relationship pattern. Indonesia can face tensions with countries such as the US or Australia which can be called a security sheriff in the Pacific region," he added.

According to him, Indonesia should be able to take advantage of the opportunity to join BRICS to improve state development. In addition, joining BRICS will increase Indonesia's access to infrastructure funding. This is because BRICS has its own funding institution called the New Development Bank (NDB) which provides alternative infrastructure financing.

BRICS Plus 2024 Summit in Kazan, Russia. (Source: Alexey Danichev/brics-russia2024.ru Host Photo Agency via Kremlin)

"It's okay"

"It's okay"

"It's okay"

"BRICS can be an alternative infrastructure funding for Indonesia, whose requirements are not as tight as OECD. This could boost Indonesia's infrastructure development agenda under President Prabowo Subianto's administration," he said.

The most important thing, continued Umam, is that by becoming a member of BRICS, Indonesia will have a bargaining position in the international world, especially in terms of the economy. Moreover, BRICS member countries have a greater influence on the flow of investment and world trade.

However, he reminded that Indonesia must consistently implement midway diplomacy by not leaning too much towards the west or east. In addition, Indonesia must also anticipate the potential risks of economic dependence on China, considering that the Bamboo Curtain Country is the member state of BRICS with the largest economic power.

Deputy Chairman of Commission I DPR RI, Ahmad Heryawan said, in principle, Commission I of the DPR RI supports Indonesia's plan to join BRICS. He considered, by joining BRICS, he would strengthen Indonesia's foreign politics, which is free to be active in addition to the economic impact on national economic growth.

The politician from the PKS faction also hopes that Indonesia and BRICS can become catalysts for countries that care about creating regional stability by continuing to voice and press at the UN forum for a ceasefire in Palestine and accepting Palestine as a full member of the United Nations.

"Our great hope is that by joining the BRICS, Indonesia can be a catalyst for other countries, especially countries that are members of the BRICS to call for the UN forum and veto-holding countries supporting Israel to urge the ceasefire of Israel and Palestine and accept Palestine as a full member of the United Nations," Aher said.

As for BRIN's political researcher, Dewi Fortuna Anwar, assessed that Indonesia's joining BRICS proves that Prabowo Subianto will be the president who plays an active role in the formation and implementation of Indonesian foreign policies during his leadership, including Indonesia's active and non-block-free foreign policy in responding to regional and international dynamics.

"Compared to the priorities of foreign policies in the Jokowi era, which seemed more transactional and narrow because of their focus on the economy, Prabowo's foreign policy is expected to be wider and more profound in the HR sector," he said.