Amidst evolving geopolitical dynamics, Russian Foreign Minister has been advocating for the reactivation of the Russia-India-China (RIC) trilateral mechanism, a strategic dialogue platform that has been dormant in recent years. This call for renewed cooperation comes at a time when the global landscape is witnessing significant shifts, with implications for regional security and stability.
The RIC trilateral format, initially proposed by former Russian Prime Minister Yevgeny Primakov, envisions a platform where Russia, India, and China can converge to discuss matters of mutual interest, address regional challenges, and foster cooperation across various sectors. Since its inception, the RIC has convened meetings at the ministerial level, involving not only foreign policy chiefs but also heads of economic, trade, and financial agencies from the three countries. The first meeting of the foreign ministers was held in 2002 at the UN. Furthermore, the leaders of the three nations have also engaged in informal summits on the sidelines of major international events such as the G20.
Sergey Lavrov, the Russian Foreign Minister, has expressed his desire to resume the RIC troika at the earliest opportunity. He believes that the time is right for reviving this dialogue, particularly as India and China have reached an understanding on easing tensions near their border regions. This understanding is crucial, as strained relations between Beijing and New Delhi since late 2019 have posed a challenge to the smooth functioning of the RIC.
China has also signaled its willingness to restore trilateral cooperation with Russia and India, emphasizing its contribution to global security. According to Lin Jian, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman, cooperation among the three nations aligns with their respective interests and promotes regional and global peace, security, stability, and progress. China is ready to maintain communication with Russia and India to advance trilateral cooperation.
India has also responded to Moscow's call with a signal of willingness to consider reviving the trilateral dialogue. According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), any decision regarding the RIC dialogue will be made in a mutually convenient manner. Randhir Jaiswal, an MEA spokesperson, characterized the RIC as a consultative format where the three countries can discuss global and regional issues of shared concern, with scheduling dependent on coordination among the nations.
Despite the positive signals from all three nations, challenges remain. The resumption of the RIC trilateral will likely hinge on the continued improvement of relations between India and China. According to Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Rudenko, the trilateral cooperation will resume when China and India return to their previous level of relations. Nevertheless, the commitment to revive this platform underscores the strategic importance of the RIC in the evolving geopolitical landscape.
