Moscow welcomes Indonesia's accession to BRICS as a full-fledged member, which will be instrumental in further uniting the Global South and East, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Thursday.
"Russia welcomes the Republic of Indonesia's joining BRICS as a full-fledged member state from January 1, 2025. Indonesia's candidacy was presented and tentatively approved as part of the 'first wave' of the bloc's extension at the summit in Johannesburg, South Africa, in 2023. However, in light of the upcoming presidential election in 2024, our Indonesian partners decided to postpone Jakarta's formal bid until a new head of state takes office and a government is formed," the statement read.
Jakarta's bid was approved in a unanimous vote by all BRICS members, the ministry said.
"Indonesia's accession to BRICS will further strengthen the bloc's authority and consistently unite the Global South and East in order to form a more just and balanced multipolar world order," the ministry added.
BRICS is an intergovernmental association created in 2006. In addition to Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, it now includes Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, the United Arab Emirates and Indonesia.