Indonesia Pushes Global Governance Reform and Stronger Resilience at BRICS Summit 2026
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| President Prabowo Subianto attends the first day of the 2026 BRICS Summit in New Delhi, India. (Red/Pwt) |
PEWARTA.CO.ID — Indonesia used the first day of the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi to call for stronger global resilience, wider developing-country participation and reforms to the multilateral system.
President Prabowo Subianto delivered Indonesia's position during a closed session for full BRICS members on Saturday, September 12, 2026, under India's chairmanship of the group. The 2026 summit carries the theme “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability.”
Indonesia links resilience from national to global levels
Prabowo said resilience should be built progressively, beginning at the national level, strengthened through regional cooperation and ultimately developed into collective resilience at the global level.
He also highlighted the potential of BRICS to contribute to global governance, food and energy security, and development opportunities, citing the group's large share of the world's population, economy and trade.
“BRICS represents half of humanity and a large share of the global economy and trade. BRICS brings together the world's largest markets and major energy producers. This creates enormous collective strength,” Prabowo said.
The president also pointed to ASEAN as an example of how regional cooperation can help build resilience. Amid geopolitical and geoeconomic shifts, he said ASEAN has provided a platform for dialogue and cooperation while supporting regional stability and economic growth.
Indonesia calls for reform of multilateral institutions
Indonesia also renewed its call for reforms to major multilateral institutions, arguing that they need to respond more effectively to changes in the global landscape and better reflect the interests of developing countries.
The institutions cited include the United Nations, the World Trade Organization and international financial institutions.
Airlangga Hartarto, who accompanied Prabowo at the summit, said multilateral reform has become increasingly important as the global economy faces fragmentation, trade uncertainty and supply-chain challenges.
Indonesia, he said, continues to support a multilateral trading system that is open, inclusive, transparent and rules-based while providing sufficient policy space for developing countries.
Developing countries urged to shape global rules
Indonesia also stressed that developing countries should have an active role in negotiations over global governance rather than simply implementing rules established by others.
“If we are not part of the negotiation process, those rules will eventually be established and applied to us. Therefore, Indonesia needs to continue playing an active role in shaping global governance that is more inclusive, representative and equitable,” Airlangga said.
During India's 2026 BRICS chairmanship, discussions have covered institutional strengthening, the economy and trade, international finance, peace and security, energy, food security and agriculture, digitalization and technology, as well as climate and environmental issues.
Economic discussions include stronger financial cooperation, the development of Local Currency Settlement mechanisms, efforts to build resilient global supply chains, and the strengthening of an open, inclusive, transparent and rules-based trading system.
The BRICS Summit 2026 will continue into its second day with an agenda focused in part on “Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability: Shaping the Future for Inclusive Global Growth,” involving BRICS members and partners.
Prabowo's delegation includes the foreign affairs minister, the investment and downstreaming minister, the minister of higher education, science and technology, and the Cabinet Secretary. Airlangga was accompanied by Deputy Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Susiwijono Moegiarso.
