MEA hints at reviving Russia–India–China trilateral talks: What it means and why it matters

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin arrive for a family photo during the BRICS summit in Kazan on October 23, 2024. (Photo by MAXIM SHIPENKOV / POOL / AFP)

In a subtle but notable shift in diplomatic tone, India on Thursday signalled it may be open to reviving the long-dormant Russia–India–China (RIC) trilateral dialogue. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) indicated that discussions under the historic mechanism could be “explored again” after a prolonged pause, hinting at renewed engagement amid evolving global alignments.

“This is a mechanism where three countries come together to discuss global and regional issues. When this meeting happens, we will work out a mutually convenient date and let you know," MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said at the weekly media briefing.

RIC: A Eurasian power idea with Cold War roots

The RIC format was born in the late 1990s, rooted in the strategic vision of former Russian Prime Minister Yevgeny Primakov, who proposed a trilateral Eurasian coalition to balance Western, particularly US, dominance in global affairs. The idea was to strengthen multipolarity by bringing together three of the largest non-Western powers to consult on geopolitical, economic, and regional issues.

Since its inception, the format has seen over 20 meetings at the foreign ministers' level, with occasional expansion into discussions among finance, trade, and agriculture officials. One of the early high points of RIC was the 2007 Delhi Security Summit, where then-foreign ministers Pranab Mukherjee (India), Li Zhaoxing (China), and Sergey Lavrov (Russia) discussed issues ranging from UN Security Council reform to regional flashpoints and energy security.

MEA’s fresh signal after Russian push

Jaiswal’s remarks come weeks after Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov publicly pushed for the revival of RIC. Speaking in June, Lavrov said, “I would like to confirm our genuine interest in earliest resumption of the work within the format of troika – Russia, India, China – which was established many years ago...”

Lavrov noted the format had historically gone beyond foreign policy, bringing in officials from economic, trade and financial agencies as well.

History of functional collaboration

Between 2008 and 2010, RIC broadened its engagement beyond high-level strategy. Expert-level meetings were held in cities like Bengaluru, New Delhi, Samara, Moscow, and others in China. These working groups dealt with practical cooperation in disaster relief, public health, agriculture, clean energy, and high-tech innovation.

The aim was to build functional synergy in areas where shared interests could override strategic rivalries. However, the momentum slowed after 2012, and collapsed altogether post-2020 due to growing India-China tensions.

Border tensions remain a roadblock

India remains cautious in its approach to China. It continues to insist that any normalisation of ties with Beijing depends on restoration of peace and tranquillity along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). The shadow of the Galwan incident still looms large over bilateral relations.

New Delhi’s diplomatic position has been consistent: while it remains open to multilateral forums like BRICS, SCO and G20 that include China, bilateral or trilateral engagements involving Beijing will not proceed unless the border situation stabilises.

Foreign Minister Dr S Jaishankar’s visit to China this week, where he met his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi and President Xi Jinping is seen as a pivotal step towards resetting of bilateral ties between the two countries.

Why this revival now?

The renewed talk of reviving the Russia-India-China (RIC) trilateral comes at a time when several factors are aligning. Russia, increasingly isolated from the West due to the Ukraine war, is deepening its pivot to Asia. India is trying to maintain a careful balance between its ties with the US-led West and its involvement in non-Western groupings like BRICS and the SCO. China, facing growing rivalry with the US, appears interested in reopening strategic communication channels with India. All three countries also share concerns about Western sanctions, rising trade protectionism, and the need for better representation of the Global South in global governance.