BRICS - Why Indonesia and Singapore Did Not Join?
Why didn’t Indonesia and Singapore join BRICS, even as the bloc expands?
At first glance, it looks like a missed opportunity. But the real story reveals ASEAN’s strategic calculations, economic priorities, and diplomatic balancing act.
In this video, former Malaysian Ambassador Dato’ Dr. Ilango Karuppannan explains:
1️⃣ Why Indonesia hesitated despite being courted by BRICS.
2️⃣ Why Singapore’s global financial role makes BRICS less attractive.
3️⃣ What these decisions reveal about ASEAN’s long-term strategy in a world shaped by the US-China rivalry and the Global South.
From Jakarta to Singapore, Beijing to Washington, discover how ASEAN is positioning itself — and why this matters for diplomats, international staff, and globally minded professionals working in the region.
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⏱️ Chapters
0:00 – Why BRICS expansion matters
1:05 – Indonesia’s hesitation explained
3:22 – Singapore’s global financial calculus
5:18 – ASEAN’s balancing act in great power rivalry
7:02 – Implications for ASEAN’s future role
Keywords (SEO embedded): BRICS, Indonesia, Singapore, ASEAN, BRICS expansion, US-China rivalry, Global South, Xi Jinping, Narendra Modi, South China Sea, global geopolitics, ASEAN strategy.