isa | CNN Indonesia
Tuesday, 22 Aug 2023 20:42 WIB
List of countries officially applying to join the economic bloc of Russia, India, South Africa and China (BRICS). (GIANLUIGI GUERCIA/AFP)
Jakarta, CNN Indonesia —
A number of countries list controlled economic organizations Russia–China, BRICS. Several others just expressed interest in joining.
The South African government says more than 40 countries have expressed interest in the BRICS, including Ethiopia and Indonesia.
Of these, some of them have officially registered, such as Argentina, Mexico, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Nigeria, Bangladesh.
The Indonesian authorities admit that Indonesia is indeed interested in joining the BRICS. However, so far they are still monitoring.
President Joko Widodo has also not given certainty whether RI will register with the BRICS.
Responding to the BRICS expansion, a senior researcher from Tuts University in the United States, Mihaela Papa, assessed that these countries had various reasons for submitting applications, such as interest in economic initiatives in local currencies.
“Then there are those who want to have easier access to China or other BRICS members or to have a lot of control during tensions and uncertainties,” said Papa, as quoted CNNMonday (21/8).
New members with developing economies can create alternatives to present global institutional strengths.
Meanwhile, the Chin program director at the think tank, Stimson Senter, said the addition of a new member would likely have a positive impact on the BRICS’ strongest member, China.
Xi Jinping, while leading China, has tried to position himself as a leader in overhauling a US-led system seen as constraining to the economy.
“The wider the membership, the stronger they can claim a collective voice, and the greater China, as the country with the largest economy, will claim leadership and representation of developing countries,” said Senter.
The BRICS is holding a high-level conference (Summit) in Johannesburg, South Africa on August 22-24.
One topic that is likely to be discussed is the expansion of the BRICS with the addition of members.
Other issues include increasing fundraising and local currency loans from the New Development Bank (NDB), to economic cooperation.
(bac)
2023-08-22 13:42:00
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