THE 2023 BRICS summit logo features a sun that beams light in five colors: green, blue, orange, red and yellow, representing the current five members of the group.

Members of this economic group of major emerging economies — Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa —are meeting this week in South Africa for a summit that could determine the future of the bloc and see its global influence further expand.

This year’s summit, being held in South Africa from Tuesday to Thursday, champions the theme “Partnership for Mutually Accelerated Growth, Sustainable Development and Inclusive Multilateralism.” That spirit, BRICS officials say, has sparked the interest of some 40 countries from the Global South in joining the group.