Indonesia has secured its position as a full member of the BRICS bloc following the 18th BRICS Summit held on September 12–13, 2026, in New Delhi, India.
BRICS Summit 2026 and Southeast Asia’s Strategic Realignment
Global Town Hall Demands a Fundamental Rule Reordering
Days after the New Delhi gathering, the seventh edition of the Global Town Hall on September 19, 2026, gathered over 8,300 participants. Operating under the theme “Calling for a Global U-Turn: Recentering Development, Reclaiming Humanity, Restoring Justice in a Crazi(er) World,” the virtual forum united think tanks, universities, civil society organizations, and international institutions. Attendees pressed for a fundamental restructuring of international rules to better address contemporary global volatility.
Did You Know?
Indonesia Sports Summit Targets Economic Growth
Shifting focus to domestic economic drivers, the Indonesia Sports Summit 2026 took place from September 11–13 at the Jakarta International Convention Centre.
ASEAN Think Tanks Chart Path to Vision 2045
Regional strategists convened in Jakarta on September 14, 2026, for the 3rd ASEAN Think Tanks Summit (ATTS) at the ASEAN Secretariat. Co-organized by the Singapore Institute of International Affairs on behalf of ASEAN-ISIS, the two-day summit drew over 150 experts, research institutions, and international partners under the banner “Navigating Our Future, Together.” Discussions focused directly on operationalizing the strategic milestones required to achieve ASEAN Vision 2045.
Converging Disasters and Transboundary Haze Challenge Indonesia
The archipelago confronted a compounding series of natural disasters, including earthquakes, volcanic activity, forest and land fires, and an ongoing drought projected to persist into 2027. The resulting toxic haze crossed national borders, prompting officials from Malaysia and Brunei to formally raise the environmental crisis at the ASEAN level.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was Indonesia’s status at the 2026 BRICS Summit?
Indonesia participated as a full member of the BRICS bloc, having officially joined in January 2025.
Which Southeast Asian countries attended the New Delhi BRICS Summit?
Indonesia attended as a full member, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam participated as partner countries, and the Philippines attended as a guest in its capacity following its role as ASEAN Chair.
What prompted Malaysia and Brunei to raise concerns at the ASEAN level?
Malaysia and Brunei raised the issue due to the transboundary haze caused by forest and land fires in Indonesia, which are exacerbated by ongoing drought conditions.
Stay Ahead of Southeast Asian Geopolitics
Explore more analysis, expert curation, and in-depth reporting across the region. Subscribe to our newsletter or leave a comment below to join the conversation.