Prabowo Tells BRICS Summit: We Control the Minerals, And We're Ready to Feed the World

President Prabowo Subianto joined leaders of BRICS member and partner nations at an open session on Saturday, where he delivered a blunt message: emerging economies hold the resources the world needs, and they want more say in how those resources are governed [240773][240764]. Speaking at the 2026 BRICS Summit, Prabowo said the group's members control critical minerals such as nickel, lithium, and cobalt — raw materials essential for electric car batteries and solar panels — giving them a central role in the global shift to clean energy [240764]. He also declared Indonesia ready to do more to meet the world's food needs, saying the country wants a bigger role in global food security [240767].

Prabowo's three key messages at the summit put national self-reliance at the top of the list, followed by stronger cooperation among BRICS members and a push for a more balanced global order [240758]. BRICS is a group of major emerging economies including Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, with Indonesia recently joining as a partner nation [240764][240773].

The call for a larger role for developing countries was echoed by Indonesia's Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, Airlangga Hartarto, who said emerging economies should have more influence in decisions that affect them. He argued that current global institutions do not reflect the growing economic weight of developing nations and urged these countries to work together and speak with one voice [240782].

Indonesia's push comes as it moves to secure its own fuel supply amid rising global tensions. Deputy Minister of Trade Dyah Roro Esti Widya Putri said the government is taking steps to protect the country's energy needs, assuring the public that Indonesia is prepared for possible disruptions to global oil supplies. The country depends on imports for a large share of its fuel, meaning any conflict or supply problem abroad can quickly affect prices and availability at home [240750].

On the economic front, Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa said Indonesia is ready to accelerate toward 6 percent growth, pointing to improved conditions following a period of slower expansion. Analysts note that reaching 6 percent would mark a significant step up from recent growth rates, which have hovered around 5 percent [237844].

Prabowo did not give details on what new steps Indonesia would take on food security [240767]. Details of the BRICS open session discussions were also not immediately available [240773].