Indonesia’s Global Interests in BRICS & The Eurasian Media Alliance

Indonesia’s membership in BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) since January 6, 2025, marks a new chapter in Indonesia’s economic diplomacy and foreign policy.

On the other hand, Indonesia’s involvement in the Eurasian media alliance, especially through the BRICS TV network, which has established a partnership with Televisi Republik Indonesia (TVRI), encourages the strengthening of the cultural and information dimensions of Indonesia’s presence on the global stage, making it not just an economic actor but also a significant contributor in carrying out global narratives from a Global South perspective.

Economic Diversification and Market Access

One of Indonesia’s most pressing interests in joining BRICS is diversifying its trading partners and gaining market access. Indonesia’s reliance on traditional markets in Western countries and international financial institutions such as the IMF and World Bank has posed unique risks in the face of global economic turmoil. BRICS provides a tangible alternative. With full membership, Indonesia opens the door to trade expansion with member countries that collectively represent nearly half the world’s population. This is fundamentally in line with the findings of various studies showing that Indonesia utilizes BRICS as a means of diversifying export markets, providing alternative development financing, and strengthening its bargaining position in global forums.

Concretely, bilateral cooperation between Jakarta and Moscow within the BRICS framework has shown positive results. The value of non-oil and gas bilateral trade between Indonesia and Russia in the first quarter of 2026 reached approximately US$1 billion, an increase of 1.13 percent compared to the same period the previous year. Meanwhile, Indonesian exports to Russia in 2024 reached US$3.3 billion, a 13.38 percent increase. Therefore, through the BRICS PartNIR (Partnership on the New Industrial Revolution) 2026 forum in Xiamen, China, Indonesia and Russia will continue to strengthen cooperation in strategic industrial sectors, technological innovation, downstreaming, and the development of a more resilient and inclusive global supply chain. Indonesia is currently exploring bilateral........

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