Indonesia ciments status as ASEAN’s only full BRICS member

Indonesia has cemented its status as Southeast Asia’s only full member of the BRICS bloc following the 18th BRICS Summit held on September 12–13 in New Delhi, India. The summit, themed “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability,” also integrated Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam as partner countries, while the Philippines participated as a guest following its role as ASEAN Chair.

Global Town Hall Demands International Rules Overhaul in Jakarta

Following the New Delhi summit, Jakarta hosted the seventh edition of the Global Town Hall on September 19. Convened under the theme “Calling for a Global U-Turn: Recentering Development, Reclaiming Humanity, Restoring Justice in a Crazi(er) World,” the virtual forum drew over 8,300 participants. The gathering united think tanks, universities, civil society organizations, and international institutions to debate the reordering of global rules and international development priorities.

ASEAN Think Tanks Chart Long-Term Vision at Jakarta Secretariat

Regional policy planning advanced on September 14, 2026, when the 3rd ASEAN Think Tanks Summit opened at the ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta. Co-organized by the Singapore Institute of International Affairs on behalf of ASEAN-ISIS under the theme “Navigating Our Future, Together,” the two-day event brought together over 150 experts, research institutions, and international partners to shape the path toward Vision 2045.

Indonesia Bets on Sports Industry and Domestic Reforms

Alongside diplomatic engagements, Indonesia is using the sports sector to spur economic growth. The Indonesia Sports Summit 2026 took place from September 11 to 13 at the Jakarta International Convention Centre, featuring more than 20 speakers and 80 global and national partners under the banner “Beyond the Game 2.0: From Nation Building to Global Industry.” Domestically, President Prabowo Subianto’s administration is pursuing major structural initiatives, including the Makan Bergizi Gratis free nutritious meals program and Koperasi Desa/Kelurahan Merah Putih rural cooperatives, which require outcome-driven metrics for nutritional improvement, food safety, targeting accuracy, and local economic impact.

Natural Disasters and Regional Haze Challenge the Archipelago

At the same time, Indonesia faces converging natural hazards, including earthquakes, volcanic activity, and ongoing forest and land fires expected to persist into 2027. The resulting haze has crossed borders, prompting neighboring governments such as Malaysia and Brunei to raise the issue at the ASEAN level.