For the first time since 2020, Russia is openly pushing to bring back the Russia-India-China (RIC) trilateral format. Speaking at a security conference in Eurasia on May 29, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated that “the time has come” to restart RIC meetings. He believes India and China have reached a mutual understanding on easing border tensions.
Lavrov reaffirmed Russia’s strong interest in reviving the RIC mechanism, which was first established years ago by former Russian Prime Minister Yevgeny Primakov. Since its inception, this platform has hosted more than 20 ministerial meetings—not just between foreign policy leaders but also officials handling economic, trade, and financial matters.
However, the RIC format has been dormant since the violent Galwan clashes between Indian and Chinese troops in June 2020. While Russia hinted at rekindling trilateral talks during the 2024 BRICS Summit in Kazan, Lavrov’s latest remarks represent the most direct appeal for a formal revival since the border conflict. His comments point to something beyond just restarting diplomatic meetings—they signal a shift in Moscow’s strategic calculations in response to evolving global dynamics.
So, why is Russia making this move now? What’s driving Moscow’s push? And where does India fit in this equation? Let’s take a closer look.
What Is the RIC?
The Russia-India-China grouping was originally proposed by former Russian Prime Minister Yevgeny Primakov as part of Moscow’s vision for a multipolar world order. Over the years, this platform facilitated over 20 high-level meetings, bringing together foreign ministers, trade officials, economic agencies, and security experts to discuss key global and regional issues. However, after the Galwan incident in 2020 severely strained India-China relations, the format faded into the background.
India-China tensions have long been the biggest roadblock to RIC’s effectiveness. However, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping’s meeting at the 2024 BRICS Summit in Kazan marked a potential turning point. Their discussion led to an understanding aimed at reducing the ongoing border standoff along the Line of Actual Control—a major source of friction since the Galwan clashes. A widely publicized handshake between the two leaders further signaled an improvement in relations.
Russia sees this tentative thaw as an opportunity to revive the RIC framework, believing that both Delhi and Beijing might now be more open to moderated dialogue under Moscow’s guidance.
What’s in It for Russia?
Since the Galwan clash, India has strengthened its ties with the United States, Japan, and Australia—particularly through the Quad—and deepened cooperation with newer strategic alliances like I2U2. It has also expanded defense and technology partnerships with Western nations, raising concerns in Moscow that India is drifting further into the Western geopolitical orbit.
For Russia, reviving RIC isn’t just about maintaining diplomatic continuity—it’s a way to ensure India remains engaged in a non-Western multilateral format. By bringing Delhi and Beijing back to the table, Moscow aims to reinforce its influence as a bridge between its two key Asian partners.
