Indonesia Strengthens Ties with Brazil: Focus on Multilateral Cooperation

TheIndonesia.id - Deputy Foreign Minister Arrmanatha Nasir met with Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira on Wednesday to discuss Indonesia's upcoming BRICS membership and ways to enhance bilateral relations, during the G20 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (FMM) in Johannesburg, South Africa.

According to Antara News Agency, Nasir expressed gratitude to Brazil for supporting Indonesia's BRICS membership and reaffirmed Indonesia’s commitment to being an active participant in the organization. “As a new member of BRICS, Indonesia is dedicated to contributing meaningfully to all BRICS agendas and initiatives,” Nasir said.

In addition to BRICS-related discussions, Nasir raised Indonesia's hopes for Brazil's backing of ASEAN’s invitation to the upcoming G20 Summit in South Africa.

Vieira, on his part, extended an invitation to President Prabowo Subianto to attend the BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro in July 2025, emphasizing that such a visit could bolster Indonesia's position within BRICS.

The ministers also addressed broader topics such as bilateral cooperation, global developments, and the challenges facing multilateralism. On the bilateral front, the two agreed to collaborate on food security and to work on a more detailed cooperation roadmap between their countries.

In line with this, Indonesia urged Brazil to fast-track negotiations for the Indonesia-Mercosur Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IM-CEPA), ensuring no delays in advancing this important economic partnership.

On multilateral matters, both countries acknowledged the need for joint efforts to reform the global order to better represent the current geopolitical landscape. "Indonesia believes that strengthening cooperation among Global South nations is crucial for creating a more just and inclusive global system," Nasir stated.

Nasir's participation in the G20 FMM also followed a meeting between MIKTA countries (Mexico, Indonesia, South Korea, Turkey, and Australia) to solidify the role of emerging powers in global governance.