The BRICS bloc of developing nations has gained a tenth full member with Indonesia's official accession on Monday. The world's fourth-most populous nation now joins India, Russia, China, and other members in the influential group.

Indonesia officially became the tenth full member of the BRICS group of developing economies on Monday, marking a significant expansion of the bloc. The announcement came from Brazil, which is a founding member of BRICS and currently holds the rotating presidency for 2025.

In a statement, the Brazilian government expressed its approval of Indonesia's accession, noting that the country, with the largest population and economy in Southeast Asia, shares the BRICS members’ commitment to reforming global governance institutions. Indonesia is seen as an important contributor to strengthening South-South cooperation within the group.

Indonesia's membership was first endorsed by BRICS leaders in August 2023, as confirmed by Brazil’s Foreign Ministry. However, the country, which is the fourth-most populous nation globally, chose to delay its formal membership until after the establishment of its newly-elected government.

The BRICS group, originally formed in 2009, was named after its founding members: Brazil, Russia, India, and China. South Africa joined the bloc in 2010. In 2024, the group expanded further to include Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, and the United Arab Emirates.

The BRICS alliance was created as a counterbalance to the Group of Seven (G7), which is comprised of the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, and Japan. As of now, BRICS nations represent 46% of the world’s population and 35% of global GDP, making them a significant force in global economic affairs.

Saudi Arabia has been invited to join BRICS but has not yet accepted, while countries such as Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Malaysia have formally applied for membership.

The most recent BRICS summit, the 16th edition, was held in Kazan, Russia, in October 2024, hosted by Russian President Vladimir Putin. During the summit, discussions centered around strengthening local currencies and increasing non-dollar transactions. These initiatives sparked criticism from U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, who threatened to impose "100 percent tariffs" on BRICS countries.

Looking ahead, the next BRICS summit is scheduled to take place in Rio de Janeiro in July of this year.