Heine on Indonesia’s BRICS Membership: A Major Step for the Global South
Ambassador Jorge Heine, Research Professor at Boston University’s Frederick S. Pardee School of Global Studies, explores the significance of Indonesia’s entry into BRICS in a recent analysis published by China Daily. Writing on the country’s growing global role, Heine argues that Indonesia’s full membership in BRICS is not just an economic milestone but a strategic move that solidifies its leadership within the Global South.
Indonesia, the world’s fourth-largest nation and an economic powerhouse with a $1.4 trillion GDP, joins BRICS at a moment of global economic realignment. Heine highlights Indonesia’s impressive economic trajectory, averaging 5% annual growth over the past decade, with China playing a crucial role in its development. Key projects like the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed railway, part of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), exemplify how Indonesia is leveraging global partnerships to modernize its infrastructure and industry.
Beyond economics, Heine underscores Indonesia’s historical commitment to non-alignment, tracing its leadership back to the 1955 Bandung Conference, which laid the foundation for the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM). Today, with rising geopolitical tensions, Indonesia has emerged as a leading voice for the Global South, advocating for sovereignty, economic equity, and a multipolar world order.
Joining BRICS allows Indonesia to expand its trade, investment, and financial collaboration with major emerging economies while gaining access to key institutions like the New Development Bank and the BRICS Contingent Reserve Arrangement. Heine argues that this move positions Indonesia as a bridge between Asia, the Global South, and major global powers, strengthening its strategic and diplomatic influence.
As BRICS continues to push for a more inclusive global governance system, Indonesia’s membership signals a shift in power dynamics, reinforcing the bloc’s role as the leading platform for the Global South. Heine concludes that with Indonesia, China, and other BRICS nations amplifying their voices, the demand for a more equitable world order will only grow stronger.
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