Inp.polri.go.id - Jakarta. Indonesia’s membership in BRICS will not strain its relationship with the United States or President-elect Donald Trump, said Mari Elka Pangestu, Presidential Special Envoy for International Trade.

“Our active and neutral foreign policy allows us to collaborate with various nations without disrupting US interests,” she said at the Presidential Palace on Tuesday (7/1/2025).

Mari emphasized Indonesia’s potential to bridge developing and developed countries through its BRICS membership, complementing its bid to join the OECD, where the US plays a key role.

Addressing concerns over BRICS’s push for de-dollarization, she noted Indonesia already uses direct currency exchange systems, such as between the rupiah and yuan. 

“This shift is a natural progression in global finance, though the US dollar remains dominant,” she added, as reported by antaranews.com.

Earlier, Brazil, as the current BRICS chair, officially welcomed Indonesia as the alliance’s newest member, celebrating its commitment to fostering international cooperation.

(mg/inp/pr/nm)