ASIATODAY.ID, JAKARTA – Professor of International Law at the University of Indonesia (UI) Hikmahanto Juwana positively assessed Indonesia’s desire to join the BRICS economic bloc so that Indonesia is not dominated by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).
“It is good that Indonesia joins BRICS so that Indonesia is not dominated by OECD countries,” said Hikmahanto in a statement received in Jakarta, Saturday, October 27, 2024.
However, he said, Indonesia can still maintain the same distance between countries that are members of the OECD and countries that are members of BRICS.
“The most important thing is that our national interests are benefited and not harmed,” he said.
He believes that Indonesia is likely to look at joining BRICS because it sees its extraordinary market strength and is able to balance the OECD.
“Indonesia may see that the OECD is no longer as strong as in the past, so Indonesia needs to join BRICS,” he said.
Moreover, Indonesia is a major importer of refined fuel oil, where the United States has imposed a ban on buying oil from Russia because of the attack launched on Ukraine.
“In fact, Russia, because it is embargoed by OECD countries, has no buyers and is willing to sell cheaply. If we were in BRICS, there would be no obstacles like this,” he said.
In addition, he added, the world currently has a dependence on the US dollar. “Meanwhile, BRICS will introduce a currency other than the US dollar,” he explained.
Previously, Indonesian Foreign Minister Sugiono officially stated Indonesia’s desire to join the BRICS economic bloc as an embodiment of national foreign policy based on the values of free and active.
This was conveyed by Sugiono at the BRICS Plus Summit in Kazan, Russia, Thursday, October 24 local time.
“Indonesia’s joining BRICS does not mean that we are joining a particular bloc, but rather that we are actively participating in all forums,” said Sugiono.
Sugiono’s visit to Russia to attend the BRICS Plus Summit as President Prabowo’s Special Envoy and was his first official visit after being inaugurated as Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs, on Monday, October 21, 10.
At the 16th BRICS Summit, Indonesia was officially recognized as a BRICS partner country along with 12 other countries. The Southeast Asian countries that are also BRICS partners are Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam. (AT Network)
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