Govt Affirms Maintaining Relations with Global Powers, Including in BRICS and OECD

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta – Head of Indonesia's Government Communications Agency (BAKOM), Muhammad Qodari, emphasized the government’s commitment to building good relations with all global powers. The statement comes amid Indonesia’s efforts to engage with BRICS and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

Indonesia joined the intergovernmental organization BRICS in 2025 at a summit in Brazil. Originally comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, the organization began expanding its membership in 2024.

Meanwhile, Indonesia is still in the process of acceding to the OECD, having applied for membership in 2023. Unlike BRICS, the OECD is predominantly made up of developed countries in North America and Europe, along with other developed countries such as Australia and Japan.

“President Prabowo said, a thousand friends are too few, while one enemy is too many. Therefore, the government will build good relations with all nations, countries, and powers around the world,” Qodari said after appearing on a podcast at Radio Republik Indonesia (RRI) headquarters in Jakarta on Tuesday, August 11, 2026.

He also said Prabowo does not want Indonesia to depend on any one side amid the current situation, which he described as “full of conflict.” He added that the interests of the Indonesian people are the key consideration in Indonesia’s engagement with all sides, and he believes Prabowo’s approach is the right one.

“The point is that resources can actually be obtained from various sources, which is why Indonesia has been able to maintain its subsidized fuel prices without increasing them to this day,” Qodari said, citing this as an example of the impact of Indonesia’s approach.

“The essence of it is to maintain good relations with everyone within a framework that safeguards the interests of the Indonesian people,” he said.

Since the early years of its independence, Indonesia has pursued an independent and active foreign policy. The approach, which emerged during the Cold War, signaled that Indonesia would not side with any particular power and would actively participate in efforts to resolve global issues.