Daijiworld Media Network- Moscow
Moscow, May 30: In a significant geopolitical development, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Thursday expressed strong support for reviving the long-dormant Russia-India-China (RIC) trilateral framework, stating that "the time has come" for renewed cooperation among the three Asian powers.
Speaking at an international conference in the city of Perm in the Ural Mountains — a symbolic venue where Europe meets Asia — Lavrov reiterated Russia’s "genuine interest" in reactivating the RIC dialogue mechanism, which was first proposed by former Russian Prime Minister Yevgeny Primakov and had seen over 20 ministerial-level meetings in the past.
"I would like to confirm our genuine interest in the earliest resumption of the work within the format of the troika — Russia, India, China. This format, over the years, has facilitated dialogue across foreign policy, economic, trade, and financial sectors," Lavrov was quoted as saying by Russian state media agency TASS.
The RIC format has remained dormant since the Galwan Valley clash between Indian and Chinese troops in June 2020, which led to heightened tensions and a prolonged freeze in trilateral cooperation. However, recent diplomatic gestures — particularly a bilateral meeting between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping during the BRICS Summit in Kazan in October 2024 — have signalled a possible thaw in relations.
“As of today, as I understand, an understanding has been reached between India and China on how to ease the situation on the border, and it seems to me that the time has come for the revival of this RIC troika,” Lavrov remarked during his plenary session speech.
Taking a veiled swipe at Western powers, the Russian foreign minister also accused NATO of attempting to draw India into what he described as “anti-China intrigues,” a move he termed as a "large provocation." Lavrov added that his view was reinforced by “confidential conversations” with Indian officials who are said to be wary of such Western maneuvers.
The call for reviving the RIC platform reflects Moscow’s broader push for building a multipolar world order and fostering a security and cooperation framework within Eurasia that is not dependent on Western-led alliances.
If the RIC dialogue resumes, it could potentially reshape regional geopolitics and offer a platform for India, China, and Russia to collaborate on key global challenges, ranging from trade and energy security to counter-terrorism and climate change.