GTI-BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) was established in 2010. The administration of Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono-SBY (2009-2014) and Jokowi (2014-2024), are not or have not yet been interested in joining.
Prabowo was initially interested in joining BRICS (24/10/2024), then officially became a member (6/1/2025), joined the NDB (New Development Bank) and BRICS Game (June 2025).
Compared to the era of SBY and Jokowi, the Prabowo administration is a step ahead. Yet that progress when measured from the legality of BRICS membership can be understood as progress limited to formality. But the actual implementation of what is already legal, so to speak the way in place, why ?
Some reasons are because Prabowo is still in the shadow of US hegemony, too afraid to dean with BRICS that means entering the Eastern bloc as in the Cold War era. While Indonesia’s position, normatively and historically should be neutral.
On the other hand, Prabowo's reliance on designing economic development is not purely independent. The BRICS framework with its NDB loan mechanism although advantageous, has not been used practically, and it is Prabowo who ultimately approached Trump to reduce or avoid tariffs on the grounds of economic strategy.
Prabowo's fears on Trump's tariffs, plus the signing of the Peace Board (BoP) by Prabowo, obviously does not contribute to Indonesia's economic progress, and it is Prabowo who contributes to Israel's economy. Meaning the BOP signed 22/1/2026 Prabowo was indeed designed to strengthen the Israeli economy and a tool to forget the genocide committed by Trump-Netanyahu is more than evident.
Through Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Minister Bahlil Lahadalia has awarded a geothermal concession in Telaga Ranu, Western Holland to PT Ormat Geothermal Indonesia, an Israeli-affiliated company, on Monday (12/2/2025).
These concessions then gained political power once the BoP was signed. Practically, economically Indonesia was not profitable, Palestinian independence as the main reason BoP signature was also not given place. It is no exaggeration to say that Trump-Netanyahu contributed to Indonesia's distance from the BRICS so that the Indonesian economy suffered even more.
Whereas the purpose of various Trump and BoP maneuvers is clear, to exploit the countries that have signed it. Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Turkey which obviously host US military bases will be mobilized attacking Iran.
Trump's treatment of Veneuzela, Cuba, in the name of the Monroe Doctrine and including Iran as anti-Israel countries, is not a lesson for Prabowo, but precisely Prabowo offers himself to be a target.
Many of Trump’s maneuvers, including the BoP, made Indonesia ostracized, making Indonesia lose the opportunity to utilize the NDB. Indonesia also cannot use the BRICS Games that have been signed by the Indonesian Ministry of Youth and Sports (Ministry) as a tool to diplomatically approach BRICS organs through sports even.
BRICS GAME
The question is, what should Prabowo do in a situation like this. What else should BRICS members do so that Indonesia as a member of the southern country really acts rationally without conflict with the Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia and international law.
According to the author, Indonesia should activate the BRICS Game signature into a real program. Organize large, medium and small scale evens that will impact the Indonesian economy directly. Indonesia could learn from previous organizers, such as India, China, South Africa, and Russia.
As we know BRICS Games have been held as many as six times. U-17 preliminary football tournament 2016 (Goa, India). First official multi-sports event (Volleyball, Wushu, Taolu)- 2017 (Guangzhou, China), Women’s Volleyball and Football-2018 (Johannesburg, South Africa). Organized online due to pandemic restrictions-2022 (Online, China). Multi-sports competition-2023 (Durban, South Africa). Expanded large-scale multi-sport competition–2024 (Kazan, Russia).
Meanwhile Russia is primarily as a pioneer of the BRICS, tasked with bringing the image of the BRICS at the level of sports diplomacy with pop culture packaging and should have a direct impact on the host economy. BRICS is not to be missed, and is proud to host high culture, such as the Valdai Club, conferences and dialogues.
The themes of dedolarisation, the use of local, multipolar currencies did impact directly, but on the academic elite. It is still centered in Russia and eastern Europe, as well as India and China, although it has activated the multipolar discourse and socialized the NDP, yet the responsive atmosphere is still minimal, both in ASIA as a whole, Southern Countries, ASEAN, including Indonesia.
Meanwhile, if BRICS, especially China, as part of the geographically southern region, along with Russia, can convince Prabowo to actualize the BRICS Games cooperation, it will certainly reduce and accelerate Indonesia's economic growth. The high-stakes sports atmosphere within the BRICS framework will have a psychological impact on the Indonesian public, ultimately giving Prabowo the confidence to utilize BRICS broadly and practically, without being burdened with responding to Trump's geopolitical earthquakes.
The largest investment in Indonesia is indeed from China, at US$36.4 billion, but this large Chinese investment has not yet changed the views of Indonesian politicians, military personnel, and officials who are drawn to BRICS with all its multipolar hopes. Indonesian elites, from 1966 after Sukarno was overthrown by the CIA until 2026, have become accustomed to obeying Western economic and political directives.
Although Western political power is centered on the gradually dismantling morality of the Epstein Files, the morality of Pancasila is not strong enough to galvanize Prabowo. Perhaps only the economic rationality of sports and his mass support will be able to bring Prabowo back to the spirit of the preamble to the Indonesian constitution, advancing economically and actively promoting peace without becoming part of colonialism.
BRICS sports diplomacy can provide Prabowo with the opportunity to use it as a catalyst for increased international tourism, infrastructure development, job creation, and reduced dependence on the US, without fear of tariff sanctions. Meanwhile, BRICS leaders can monitor BRICS progress without compromising Indonesia's sovereign rights.
Equality, respect for dignity, and multipolarity among BRICS members can be directly experienced in sporting events, without everything having to be entangled in geopolitical frameworks. The 2026 Asian Futsal Cup final, Iran vs. Indonesia, has been widely discussed by all circles, without anyone worrying about Trump's military fleet attacking Iran. Both Indonesia and Iran are BRICS members.