President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva of Brazil warmly welcomed Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto at the opening of the 17th BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. This marked Prabowo’s first participation as the head of state of Indonesia, which became a full member of the BRICS forum. Lula highlighted the significance of the Bandung Conference in 1955, where Asian and African nations resisted great power dominance.
BRICS, according to Lula, embodies the principles of the Bandung Non-Aligned Movement and promotes a multipolar international order. The united stance of BRICS members at the United Nations reflects their commitment to global cooperation and shared governance. Indonesia officially joined BRICS on January 1, 2025, expanding the platform for leaders to address political, security, economic, and environmental challenges.
The summit also welcomed leaders from newly admitted member states such as Ethiopia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, and Iran. These representatives joined the founding nations of BRICS in discussions on artificial intelligence governance, climate action, and global health priorities. The diverse presence of leaders underscored the commitment to enhancing multilateral cooperation within BRICS and beyond.
