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REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) left for his first visit to Africa on Sunday (20/8/2023). Jokowi will visit four countries, namely Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique and South Africa (South Africa). The president will also attend the BRICS summit to be held in Johannesburg from August 22-24, 2023.

“For South Africa, Indonesia has been invited to the BRICS summit. And of course, on the sidelines of the BRICS summit, various bilateral meetings will be held with other heads of state,” Jokowi said during the meeting. a press release ahead of his visit to Africa at Kualanamu Airport, Deli Serdang, North Sumatra.

Jokowi’s attendance at the BRICS summit has again raised questions about Indonesia’s potential to join the coalition made up of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. Indonesia has been frequently reported as interested in joining the BRICS. However, Indonesia has not officially confirmed the news or reports. At the summit later, membership expansion will be one of the main issues discussed by the leaders of the BRICS member countries.

Jokowi’s decision to respond to an invitation to attend the BRICS summit in South Africa has been closely scrutinized by several international media. South China Morning Postfor example, published a news article titled “Indonesia’s Joko Widodo to Attend Brics Summit in South Africa Amid Expansion Speculation”. Bangkok Post And Barrons Jokowi’s visit was also reported with a similar title, namely “Indonesian President to Attend BRICS Summit in South Africa”.

Even though there were three other African countries visited by Jokowi apart from South Africa, his presence at the BRICS summit attracted more attention. Indeed, Indonesia was often mentioned as being interested in joining the coalition.

This week, South Africa’s Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor revealed that 23 countries have formally applied for BRICS membership. No less than eight countries, including from the Arab world. However, Pandor did not explicitly disclose the names of the countries that have signed up to join BRICS.

“South Africa, as BRICS chair, will hold discussions at the summit on its expansion model, principles and standards. We are gradually moving towards consensus on the issue of BRICS expansion, and we hope to achieve that at the summit,” Pandor said. Middle East MonitorsTuesday (8/15/2023).

So far, at least four countries have publicly expressed interest in joining BRICS. These are Algeria, Bangladesh, Ethiopia and Belarus.

At the beginning of this month Republic had asked the spokesman of the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Kemenlu), Teuku Faizasyah, the possibility of Indonesia joining the BRICS. But he did not give a definitive answer. “It will be delivered in due time,” he said on Aug. 1, 2023, when asked about the possibility of Indonesia joining BRICS.

Teuku’s response suggests that there have been discussions on whether Indonesia should join BRICS. However, Teuku added that information about the case was beyond his abilities as a spokesperson for the Indonesian Foreign Ministry. “This means that the competent party who can answer the questions posed is not me. On the other hand, to join an organization, there is a process that must be passed,” he said.

When asked who has the competence to answer questions about the possibility of Indonesia’s BRICS membership, Teuku suggested trying to contact the coordinating ministry of economy.

The BRICS were created in 2009 on the initiative of Russia. The objective is to develop global cooperation between the countries concerned. The BRICS are often seen as the “pole of resistance” to the G7 economic group which includes the US, UK, Canada, Germany, France, Italy and Japan.

According to IMF data, by 2022, the total combined gross domestic product (GDP) of the BRICS had reached US$22.5 trillion. This amount exceeds the GDP of the G7 which reached 21.4 trillion US dollars. BRICS countries are now seen as important and significant players in the fight against economic growth and the global political context.

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