Jakarta. Indonesia has marked a historic moment in its foreign policy by participating for the first time as a full member in the 2025 BRICS Summit held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, according to a senior government official.

Presidential Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya said Indonesia's inclusion in BRICS -- an influential bloc originally comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa -- signals a new direction in the country’s global diplomacy.

“President Prabowo Subianto himself initiated Indonesia’s push to join BRICS and attended the summit in Rio, where he also delivered a speech,” Teddy said on Tuesday.

He noted that the president has long adhered to the principle that "a thousand friends are too few, and one enemy is too many," believing that Indonesia must engage with as many international platforms as possible -- BRICS included.

Indonesia's membership was fully supported by the existing BRICS members and formalized in less than a year, Teddy added. With Indonesia's inclusion, the group now counts ten full members. Saudi Arabia is also expected to join soon, pending formal confirmation.

Teddy highlighted BRICS’ growing global influence, noting that the bloc now represents nearly half the world’s population and contributes around 35 percent of global GDP.

“The summit was attended by representatives from 28 countries -- 10 full members, 10 partner countries, and 8 observing nations,” he said. “The fact that so many are eager to join BRICS, and that Indonesia was accepted, shows we are being heard, recognized, and increasingly needed in global affairs.”

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