Indonesia Might Join BRICS If Prabowo Becomes President

Liputan6.com, Jakarta - Minister for Defense Prabowo Subianto opens up the possibility of Indonesia joining the BRICS group if he is elected as the president in 2024. BRICS is a group consisting of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. 

Prabowo said he would consider bringing Indonesia into BRICS if it is beneficial for the country.

"We have joined G20, we are also part of ASEAN, now we are part of APEC which is not a geopolitical association, that is economics association," said Prabowo after delivering his speech at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Jakarta, Monday (13/11/2023).

"So, we will see. If later our economic interest is benefitting, yes, why not we join [sic] BRICS?" stated Prabowo.

However, Prabowo has ruled out any military alliance which would be "contradicting" Indonesia's tradition to be neutral. Joining any military alliance, according to Prabowo, will be against the national interest.

Indonesia is a strong supporter of the Non-Aligned Movement. 

"We do not want to be part of any geopolitical lump, and this tradition, I think, I am committed to carry on and strive for," said Prabowo.