China has recently expressed its support for Russia's initiative to revive the Russia-India-China (RIC) troika, a trilateral cooperation mechanism that has been largely inactive in recent years. Beijing emphasizes that this cooperation serves the interests of all three countries and contributes to regional and global stability.
The RIC troika is a strategic dialogue forum that was initiated in the 1990s by Russia's former Prime Minister Yevgeny Primakov. The platform aimed to foster cooperation and discuss issues of mutual concern among the three major Eurasian powers. Over the years, the RIC has held over 20 meetings at various levels, including foreign ministers and heads of economic, trade, and financial agencies. However, the framework has been dormant since 2020, initially due to the COVID-19 pandemic and later due to the India-China military standoff in Eastern Ladakh.
Russia has been actively pushing for the revival of the RIC format and is reportedly engaged in negotiations with both Beijing and New Delhi to resume the trilateral dialogue. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Rudenko has stated that Moscow views the three nations as crucial partners and founders of BRICS, emphasizing the inappropriateness of the format's absence.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian echoed this sentiment, stating that China-Russia-India cooperation not only serves the respective interests of the three countries but also helps uphold peace, security, stability, and progress in the region and the world. He affirmed China's readiness to maintain communication with Russia and India to advance trilateral cooperation.
India has signaled openness to reviving the RIC dialogue, with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stating that any decision on resuming the format would be taken in a "mutually convenient manner". MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal described the RIC as a consultative format that brings the three nations together to discuss regional and global issues of shared concern.
Several factors are driving the renewed interest in the RIC format. For Russia, the revival of the troika aligns with its broader goal of creating a multipolar world order and countering Western dominance. India and China are viewed as key partners in this endeavor, given their large economies and military capabilities. Additionally, Russia seeks to maintain close ties with both India and China and avoid being caught in the middle of any potential conflict between them.
China's support for the RIC revival comes amid increasing concerns about the emerging alliance of the US, India, Japan, and Australia in the Quad, which Beijing perceives as a grouping aimed at containing its rise. The RIC provides an alternative platform for China to engage with India and Russia on regional and global issues.
Despite the expressed interest from Russia and China, some challenges remain in reviving the RIC troika. The 2020 India-China military standoff in Eastern Ladakh has strained relations between the two countries, and resolving this issue will be crucial for the successful resumption of the trilateral dialogue.
Moreover, India's growing ties with the United States and the European Union may also present a hurdle. Russia has expressed concerns over India's closer relations with the EU, while China views India's participation in the Quad with suspicion.
Nevertheless, the recent expressions of support from Beijing and the openness from New Delhi suggest a potential pathway for the revival of the Russia-India-China troika. The resumption of this trilateral dialogue could have significant implications for regional and global geopolitics, potentially reshaping the dynamics of power and influence in Eurasia.
