By Bharat Global Time News Desk | June 1, 2025
In a world increasingly shaped by new alliances and shifting power centers, Russia has made a bold move—it wants to revive the once-promising Russia-India-China (RIC) trilateral format. At a time when global dynamics are complex and border memories still raw, especially between India and China, the timing of Moscow’s renewed interest is intriguing.
So, why now? And what’s really at stake?
What Did Russia Say?
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, speaking at a strategic forum in Perm, made a direct call to bring back the RIC platform—a dialogue mechanism originally created in the 1990s to foster cooperation between three of Asia’s biggest powers.
Lavrov emphasized that “the time is ripe” to renew this format, especially as India and China have shown signs of stabilization along their disputed border areas. With the Galwan Valley clash in 2020 slowly receding into the background and diplomatic efforts inching forward, Moscow sees an opportunity to rekindle multilateral talks that had largely stalled.
What Is the RIC and Why Was It Important?
The RIC framework was the brainchild of former Russian PM Yevgeny Primakov, envisioned as a geopolitical counterbalance to Western-led groupings like NATO. While it wasn’t as high-profile as BRICS or the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), it allowed India, China, and Russia to sit at the same table and discuss matters ranging from trade to terrorism.
More than 20 ministerial-level meetings were held over the years, creating a quiet but crucial space for dialogue—until tensions flared in Ladakh.
The Elephant in the Room: India-China Border Tensions
The Galwan Valley incident in June 2020 was a turning point. After that bloody clash, where both sides suffered casualties, India understandably cooled toward China in most multilateral forums. The RIC format, too, became dormant.
But Russia—perhaps one of the few powers with working relationships with both Delhi and Beijing—is now nudging both sides to refocus on “strategic autonomy and multipolarity”, two ideas all three nations have championed in the past.
Where Does India Stand?
India today finds itself walking a diplomatic tightrope. On one hand, it’s a major player in the Quad (alongside the US, Japan, and Australia), which is viewed warily by Russia and China. On the other hand, New Delhi has historically valued strategic independence and has often avoided being labeled part of any formal military bloc.
Lavrov even took a not-so-subtle swipe at the Quad, claiming the US and its allies are trying to “pressure India into turning the Quad into a military alliance.”
India’s response so far has been cautious—but not dismissive. If the RIC platform could become a space for de-escalation with China and deeper coordination with Russia, it may still hold some value.
Why Now?
Here’s why Moscow is pushing for RIC’s revival now:
- Russia’s pivot to Asia amid growing isolation from the West post-Ukraine war.
- India’s rising global stature, seen in its recent G20 leadership and strategic balancing act.
- China’s interest in regional forums that don’t revolve around the US-led world order.
- A possible Putin visit to India later this year, for which Lavrov may visit Delhi soon to set the agenda.
Final Thoughts: Revival or Reset?
Whether RIC makes a genuine comeback or becomes another symbolic photo-op remains to be seen. But in a world where great powers are recalibrating and tensions can escalate overnight, any platform that promotes dialogue—even cautiously—is worth watching.
For India, it’s about balance: staying aligned with global democracies without shutting the door on regional diplomacy. For Russia, it’s about retaining relevance. And for China, it’s another chess move in the multipolar game.
Bharat Global Time will keep tracking every development, because diplomacy—just like borders—is always shifting.
