NEW DELHI, thekabarnews.com—Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto called on BRICS members to turn their collective influence into concrete benefits for developing countries. He made this call during the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi on Saturday, September 12.

Prabowo delivered Indonesia’s position during a closed session titled “Inclusive Global Governance and Strengthening Multilateralism” at Bharat Mandapam. The two-day summit, held on September 12–13, marked Indonesia’s participation as a full BRICS member.

Indonesia formally joined BRICS in January 2025. The group currently brings together major emerging economies from Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America.

India chaired the 2026 summit under the theme “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability.” This information is according to Indonesia’s Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs.

Prabowo argued that a country’s international strength begins with its ability to meet its people’s essential needs.

He identified food security, energy resilience, and education as foundations that enable countries to protect their sovereignty. Moreover, he said these help reduce dependence on external powers.

The Indonesian president also invoked the spirit of the 1955 Asian-African Conference in Bandung. At this conference, newly independent countries sought a stronger role in international affairs.

“There is an old Indonesian saying, ‘United we stand, divided we fall,’” Prabowo told BRICS leaders.

“This simple wisdom reflects the spirit that united the countries of the Global South, the nations of Asia and Africa, decades ago in Bandung,” he added, according to the Indonesia’s Presidential Secretariat.

Prabowo said BRICS represents about half of humanity and includes some of the world’s largest markets and major energy producers.

He urged members to use that scale to improve food and energy security while connecting capital, technology, resources, and knowledge.

“Imagine what BRICS could achieve if we fully mobilized this power to help secure food and energy supplies,” Prabowo said.

“Imagine if our markets, capital, resources, technology, and knowledge were better connected, creating greater opportunities for developing countries.”

He also encouraged BRICS members to mobilize development financing. With this effort, Global South countries could build infrastructure and finance their priorities.

“This is the kind of collective power we need—power that does not remain on paper but translates into opportunities for our people. Power that enables the Global South to have a greater voice in shaping its future,” Prabowo said.

President Prabowo maintained that the United Nations should remain at the center of the multilateral system. However, he called for reforms to make international institutions more representative and responsive.

“The UN must become more representative, more responsive, and better able to deliver concrete results for our people. At the same time, our international financial institutions must evolve. Trade and currencies must not be weaponized,” he said.

BRICS leaders subsequently adopted the New Delhi Declaration. They reaffirmed their commitment to reforming global governance and expanding developing countries’ representation in international decision-making.

The summit’s outcome places implementation at the center of the bloc’s next challenge. Now, they must convert its demographic and economic weight into measurable results for its members and the wider Global South.