08:28As Indonesia begins the process of becoming a permanent member of BRICS, International Law professor at the University of Indonesia Hikmahanto Juwana praised the strategic opportunities this move will open up, while explaining Jakarta's disappointment with the OECD and Western 'double standards' in an interview on Saturday.
"China, at the current moment, has a huge population, and also India, so it's a huge market. And we also know that China is a country with a surplus. So, in that sense, Indonesia wants to take the benefit of those countries who will be the next economic powers, which is China, India, and also maybe Russia," Professor Juwana said.
Juwana added that a new BRICS currency, or a move toward China's renminbi as an alternative to the dollar would reduce emerging economies' dependency on the US currency for global trade.
The academic also expressed hope that BRICS membership will help revive Indonesia's struggling palm oil industry, after it was slapped with an EU ban over associated deforestation.
With easier access to the BRICS market, Indonesian businesses aim to meet growing international demand for commodities, creating more jobs in Indonesia, he explained.
"At the current stage, countries feel disappointed with the OECD, of how the Western European countries run the world economy, and also the United States. They usually have double standards," said Juwana.
"We know that the war in Ukraine and also the war in Gaza, when we are dealing with Russia, the European, US, will say that Russia should be condemned. But when we ask the US and some Western European countries to stop the war in Gaza by Israel, they say, no, it is the right of self-defence of Israel. I mean, that is a kind of double standard. I think the world thinks that enough is enough, this is too much."
Instead, Juwana stressed the importance of having 'other blocs' that can go 'head-to-head with the OECD countries', especially on vital energy supplies.
"Indonesia is now a net importer country of oil, so we need to buy oil, if possible, at a very competitive price. So, where do we get that from? Well, Russia is offering that, and this is because Russia is being embargoed from selling their oil to Western European countries," he noted.
Newly-appointed Foreign Minister Sugiono recently commented that "Indonesia's decision to apply to join BRICS is a manifestation of our free and active foreign policy." The country would not align "with any specific bloc, but rather participate in all forums," he added.
This comes as the Russian city of Kazan hosted the 16th BRICS Summit last week, welcoming world leaders from more than 20 countries and representatives from other partner nations and organisations.
Russia has chaired BRICS since January 1, 2024. The group expanded this year, taking on new members to grow in size and influence, now covering nearly half the world's population and a third of the global economy.
'Disappointed with OECD' - International law expert hits out at Western 'double standards' as Indonesia eyes full BRICS membership
As Indonesia begins the process of becoming a permanent member of BRICS, International Law professor at the University of Indonesia Hikmahanto Juwana praised the strategic opportunities this move will open up, while explaining Jakarta's disappointment with the OECD and Western 'double standards' in an interview on Saturday.
"China, at the current moment, has a huge population, and also India, so it's a huge market. And we also know that China is a country with a surplus. So, in that sense, Indonesia wants to take the benefit of those countries who will be the next economic powers, which is China, India, and also maybe Russia," Professor Juwana said.
Juwana added that a new BRICS currency, or a move toward China's renminbi as an alternative to the dollar would reduce emerging economies' dependency on the US currency for global trade.
The academic also expressed hope that BRICS membership will help revive Indonesia's struggling palm oil industry, after it was slapped with an EU ban over associated deforestation.
With easier access to the BRICS market, Indonesian businesses aim to meet growing international demand for commodities, creating more jobs in Indonesia, he explained.
"At the current stage, countries feel disappointed with the OECD, of how the Western European countries run the world economy, and also the United States. They usually have double standards," said Juwana.
"We know that the war in Ukraine and also the war in Gaza, when we are dealing with Russia, the European, US, will say that Russia should be condemned. But when we ask the US and some Western European countries to stop the war in Gaza by Israel, they say, no, it is the right of self-defence of Israel. I mean, that is a kind of double standard. I think the world thinks that enough is enough, this is too much."
Instead, Juwana stressed the importance of having 'other blocs' that can go 'head-to-head with the OECD countries', especially on vital energy supplies.
"Indonesia is now a net importer country of oil, so we need to buy oil, if possible, at a very competitive price. So, where do we get that from? Well, Russia is offering that, and this is because Russia is being embargoed from selling their oil to Western European countries," he noted.
Newly-appointed Foreign Minister Sugiono recently commented that "Indonesia's decision to apply to join BRICS is a manifestation of our free and active foreign policy." The country would not align "with any specific bloc, but rather participate in all forums," he added.
This comes as the Russian city of Kazan hosted the 16th BRICS Summit last week, welcoming world leaders from more than 20 countries and representatives from other partner nations and organisations.
Russia has chaired BRICS since January 1, 2024. The group expanded this year, taking on new members to grow in size and influence, now covering nearly half the world's population and a third of the global economy.
As Indonesia begins the process of becoming a permanent member of BRICS, International Law professor at the University of Indonesia Hikmahanto Juwana praised the strategic opportunities this move will open up, while explaining Jakarta's disappointment with the OECD and Western 'double standards' in an interview on Saturday.
"China, at the current moment, has a huge population, and also India, so it's a huge market. And we also know that China is a country with a surplus. So, in that sense, Indonesia wants to take the benefit of those countries who will be the next economic powers, which is China, India, and also maybe Russia," Professor Juwana said.
Juwana added that a new BRICS currency, or a move toward China's renminbi as an alternative to the dollar would reduce emerging economies' dependency on the US currency for global trade.
The academic also expressed hope that BRICS membership will help revive Indonesia's struggling palm oil industry, after it was slapped with an EU ban over associated deforestation.
With easier access to the BRICS market, Indonesian businesses aim to meet growing international demand for commodities, creating more jobs in Indonesia, he explained.
"At the current stage, countries feel disappointed with the OECD, of how the Western European countries run the world economy, and also the United States. They usually have double standards," said Juwana.
"We know that the war in Ukraine and also the war in Gaza, when we are dealing with Russia, the European, US, will say that Russia should be condemned. But when we ask the US and some Western European countries to stop the war in Gaza by Israel, they say, no, it is the right of self-defence of Israel. I mean, that is a kind of double standard. I think the world thinks that enough is enough, this is too much."
Instead, Juwana stressed the importance of having 'other blocs' that can go 'head-to-head with the OECD countries', especially on vital energy supplies.
"Indonesia is now a net importer country of oil, so we need to buy oil, if possible, at a very competitive price. So, where do we get that from? Well, Russia is offering that, and this is because Russia is being embargoed from selling their oil to Western European countries," he noted.
Newly-appointed Foreign Minister Sugiono recently commented that "Indonesia's decision to apply to join BRICS is a manifestation of our free and active foreign policy." The country would not align "with any specific bloc, but rather participate in all forums," he added.
This comes as the Russian city of Kazan hosted the 16th BRICS Summit last week, welcoming world leaders from more than 20 countries and representatives from other partner nations and organisations.
Russia has chaired BRICS since January 1, 2024. The group expanded this year, taking on new members to grow in size and influence, now covering nearly half the world's population and a third of the global economy.