Context:

Russia is actively working to revive the Russia-India-China (RIC) trilateral dialogue, a strategic forum that has remained largely inactive for nearly five years.

RIC format:

• Originally proposed in the late 1990s by former Russian Prime Minister Yevgeny Primakov, the RIC format was envisioned as a strategic counterbalance to Western influence.
• Over the years, it hosted more than 20 ministerial-level meetings, fostering collaboration in foreign policy, economic development, and security.
• However, the format lost traction after the 2020 Galwan Valley clash, which severely strained relations between India and China.

Reasons Behind Russia’s Renewed Push to Revive the RIC Format

• Easing India-China Tensions: Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has emphasized that improving conditions along the India-China border make this an opportune moment to relaunch the RIC dialogue.
• Counterbalancing Western Alliances: Moscow sees growing Western influence—through groupings like NATO and the Quad (comprising the U.S., Japan, Australia, and India)—as a challenge to regional stability and is seeking to strengthen alternative platforms.
• Advancing a Eurasian Security Framework: Russia aims to use the RIC to promote a unified and equitable security and cooperation system in Eurasia. This initiative supports its broader goal of fostering a multipolar world and reducing dependence on Western-dominated institutions.

Strategic Significance of the RIC Format

• Geographic and Economic Scale:
  • Together, Russia, India, and China account for over 19% of the world’s landmass and contribute more than 33% to global GDP.
  • All three are key members of major international platforms such as BRICS, the G20, and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).
• Advancing Multilateralism and a Multipolar World Order:
  • The RIC serves as a powerful non-Western voice on global affairs.
  • With Russia and China holding permanent seats on the UN Security Council, the trilateral grouping wields significant diplomatic and strategic influence.
• Eurasian Integration and Connectivity:
  • The RIC can support and accelerate regional initiatives like the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), both spearheaded by Russia.
  • These efforts aim to strengthen regional connectivity and promote long-term stability across the Eurasian continent.

Challenges to Reviving the RIC Format

• Ongoing India-China Border Tensions:
  Despite recent diplomatic overtures, unresolved territorial disputes and a lingering trust deficit between India and China continue to pose a major obstacle to meaningful trilateral cooperation.
• India’s Strategic Balancing Act:
  India’s active role in the Quad and its expanding partnerships with Western powers reflect its broader strategic diversification. Balancing these alignments while engaging with the RIC may present diplomatic and geopolitical challenges.
• Russia-China Proximity:
  Russia’s deepening ties with China, particularly since the onset of the Ukraine conflict, could raise concerns in New Delhi about the neutrality of the RIC framework and fears of it becoming overly influenced by Beijing’s strategic agenda.

Source: TOI