The Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs recently welcomed Brazil's announcement as the rotating chair of the BRICS countries in 2025 that Indonesia has officially joined the BRICS cooperation mechanism. It believes that this achievement reflects Indonesia's increasingly active role in global affairs and demonstrates Indonesia's firm commitment to promoting a more inclusive and equitable global order through multilateral cooperation. This is the latest initiative of the BRICS countries. Indonesia's accession to BRICS will enhance its global influence in the South on the world stage Bloomberg commented. Analysts point out that Indonesia's becoming the first Southeast Asian member of the BRICS is a strategic decision to implement its independent diplomatic strategy, promote economic development, and enhance its voice in global governance. At the same time, the BRICS countries are an important platform for strengthening South South cooperation, and Indonesia's participation in this mechanism as a major developing country will help increase the representation and voice of countries in the global South in the decision-making process of international affairs. This is the logo and national flag of the BRICS summit taken on October 24, 2024 in Kazan, Russia. As one of the initiators of the Non Aligned Movement, Indonesia has always adhered to a "free and proactive" diplomatic policy and is committed to maintaining its independence and autonomy. Indonesian President Prabowo has repeatedly reiterated that Indonesia will continue to uphold this principle in international affairs. In October 2024, Indonesian Foreign Minister Sujiyono stated during the BRICS Kazan Summit that many of the proposals advocated by BRICS countries are highly consistent with Indonesia's diplomatic stance. "Indonesia's application to join BRICS is not about choosing to stand in a specific camp, but about hoping to use this platform to speak more freely for countries in the global South and promote the maintenance of common interests. Indonesian political observer Dimas Nugroho believes that Indonesia's accession to the BRICS reflects its independent foreign policy and demonstrates its desire to establish good multilateral relations through mutual respect and mutually beneficial economic cooperation. Mohammad Sharoni Rofi, an international relations expert at the University of Indonesia, pointed out that Indonesia's accession to BRICS is part of its diversified partner strategy, and "a free and proactive foreign policy enables Indonesia to engage with numerous countries and organizations. This is Sudirman Street captured on September 2, 2023 in Jakarta, Indonesia. In recent years, the Indonesian government has actively sought to join multiple cooperation mechanisms and organizations such as the BRICS, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans Pacific Partnership, aiming to further promote its economic development by aligning with major global economies and multilateral cooperation platforms. Since Prabowo formed a new cabinet, Indonesia has accelerated its pace of joining international economic cooperation mechanisms and organizations. The Economic Director of the Indonesian Center for Economic and Legal Research, Nalur Huda, said that joining BRICS is beneficial for Indonesia to better expand its export channels and avoid excessive dependence on Western markets. The trend of Middle Eastern countries joining the BRICS is also in line with the Indonesian government's vision of entering the Middle East market. "Theresa Olia Farianti, a professor of monetary economics at the University of Indonesia, believes that the BRICS mechanism will have a positive impact on the Indonesian economy, and if Indonesia can create a better business competition environment, it will play a more important role on this platform. She said that data shows that after Indonesia joins BRICS, its economic growth rate may increase by 0.3%. Marwan Sik Asan, a member of the 11th Committee of the Indonesian House of Representatives, emphasized that the BRICS countries have a huge market with a large population, providing new space for Indonesian products and services to participate in international competition. This platform can effectively strengthen South South cooperation and help Indonesia diversify its economic relations in a multipolar world. "This is a photo taken on May 22, 2023, of the Jakarta Bandung high-speed railway comprehensive inspection train traveling along the Jakarta Bandung high-speed railway in Indonesia. New opportunities for enhancing international discourse power: BRICS countries are an important platform for promoting global solidarity and cooperation in the South, an important force for driving changes in the global governance system, and have always been committed to upholding multilateralism, defending fairness and justice, and promoting common development. Indonesian public opinion generally believes that the inclusiveness and broad representativeness of the BRICS cooperation mechanism provide an important opportunity for Indonesia to enhance its international discourse power. By participating in the BRICS global cooperation framework, Indonesia can gain a greater voice in global governance issues. Ahmed Heriawan, Vice Chairman of the First Committee of the Indonesian House of Representatives, pointed out that in the current complex and ever-changing international situation, Indonesia can play a greater role in maintaining global balance and world peace through the BRICS platform. Climate change, sustainable development, humanitarianism and other issues are key areas that Indonesia can actively promote, "said Vyayanto Samirin, an economist at Palamadina University in Indonesia. Joining the BRICS is an important step for Indonesia to strengthen its international influence and consolidate its strategic position. It will effectively enhance Indonesia's position in international negotiations and provide an opportunity for Indonesia to participate in the design of the future development blueprint of the BRICS mechanism. In the view of international relations expert Luo Fei from the University of Indonesia, "as a member of the BRICS countries, Indonesia will be more capable of expressing the common demands of countries in the global South" and further expanding its network of partners involved in global agendas. (New Society)