In an interview with the Indonesian Business Times, Australian property developer, political commentator, and founder of the Australian National Review, Jamie McIntyre, discussed Indonesia’s rising global influence and the policies of its current president. Having lived and invested extensively in the country, McIntyre said he avoids commenting on domestic politics, but voiced strong support for Indonesia’s entry into BRICS, calling it “a vital step toward a multipolar world.” He argued this shift could counter the rise of “a one-world government run out of the Middle East” and prevent “a dystopian surveillance future for humanity.”
According to McIntyre, BRICS enhances sovereignty, promotes fairer global trade, and enables nations to transact in local currencies—or a future BRICS currency—thereby reducing dependence on the US dollar. He criticized the dollar’s post–World War II dominance, describing it as “printed without asset backing by a global banking cartel, distorting markets and devaluing money worldwide.”
McIntyre warned that Indonesia, like many nations, has suffered from excessive money printing in the past, which he called economically and socially destructive. He also welcomed closer ties with Russia, including potential military partnerships, calling them “a positive development” that should not alarm Australia.
Looking ahead, McIntyre highlighted Indonesia’s projected rise to the world’s fourth-largest economy by 2050, praising its “vibrant population with traditional values.” Rejecting Western stereotypes about Muslims, he described Indonesia—home to the world’s largest Muslim population—as “a shining example of a happy, peaceful, and tolerant society that embraces Christians and other faiths alike.”
He criticized recent remarks by Israel’s prime minister directed at Indonesia’s leader as “poor form,” stressing that Indonesia has every right to defend its role on the world stage and advocate for Muslim communities. He further commended the president’s recent address at a Russian summit alongside Vladimir Putin, calling it “a balanced approach to leading a nation of more than 270 million people—no easy task.”
Describing himself as a “compassionate capitalist,” McIntyre argued that Indonesia is well positioned to benefit from Western economic decline. He predicted a growing “brain drain” from Australia and Europe, with Indonesia attracting not only foreign investment but also intellectual property. This, he said, would accelerate the country’s economic transformation while preserving a balanced society.
