The leaders of the nations known as BRICS believe they can serve as a counterweight to the West. Some have suggested the group, which includes Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, should expand. Others are reluctant to upset the status quo.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa will host the summit starting Tuesday in Johannesburg. The meetings will be the first to be held in person since 2019. The gathering is expected to be the biggest in BRICS history, with more than 60 nations invited.

"The most topical issue at the moment is the possible expansion of BRICS, given that there is over 23 countries that have formally applied for membership," said Clayson Monyela, the Deputy Director-General of the South African Department of International Relations.
Chinese President Xi Jinping wrote an article published on Monday in South African media outlets. He suggested the fact that so many countries want to join is a "testament to the vitality and influence" of BRICS.

India's Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra suggested expansion is not guaranteed. "The BRICS countries have to have full consensus on how they would want BRICS expanded, what should be the guiding principles of that expansion, what would be the criteria of a such expansion," he said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin had planned on attending in person. But the International Criminal Court has issued a warrant for his arrest over the war in Ukraine. South African authorities would have been obliged to comply. Putin will join the summit online.