Leaders of the BRICS bloc have arrived at the Museum of Modern Art in Rio de Janeiro for the 17th BRICS Summit. The two-day gathering centers on deepening cooperation among Global South nations. Over the past two years, the bloc has expanded significantly and now includes 11 full members and 10 partner countries. Collectively, BRICS nations represent more than half of the world's population, account for nearly 30 percent of the global GDP and contribute over 50 percent of global economic output.