President Prabowo Subianto, who took office on Sunday, has stressed repeatedly that he will befriend all countries, be they China or the United States, and that Indonesia will not be joining any military bloc.
Sugiono added BRICS suits Prabowo’s main government programmes “especially with regards to food and energy security, poverty eradication, and the advancement of human resources”, adding that Indonesia sees the group as a “vehicle” to further the interests of the global south.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said more than 30 countries had expressed a desire to join the BRICS, though there was little immediate clarity on how the expansion would work.
Current members include Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Iran, Russia, South Africa and the United Arab Emirates.
