Moscow Looks to Rebuild RIC Ties with India and China in Changing Global Climate

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has said that Moscow strongly supports restarting the Russia-India-China (RIC) trilateral talks. He made these comments at a conference focused on security in Eurasia. Lavrov said Russia is very interested in bringing back the RIC discussion, especially now that India and China seem to be improving their relationship.

The RIC format, started many years ago by former Russian Prime Minister Yevgeny Primakov, has had more than 20 meetings between ministers. These talks have not only involved foreign ministers but also covered trade, finance, and economic topics. However, the RIC meetings stopped after the 2020 border clash in Galwan Valley between Indian and Chinese soldiers. That clash resulted in the deaths of 20 Indian and four Chinese troops, and tensions between the two countries grew, especially along the Line of Actual Control in Ladakh.

Now, Lavrov says the situation is changing. He believes India and China have reached an understanding on how to calm things down at the border. This, he suggests, creates a good chance to restart the three-country talks. Lavrov also criticized Western alliances like NATO. He accused them of trying to pull India into action against China. He said he has spoken privately with Indian officials and believes they are aware of this and view it as a provocation.

These comments follow a meeting between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping at the BRICS Summit in Kazan, Russia, in October 2024. That meeting was seen as a positive step toward improving India-China ties. Russia’s call to bring back the RIC dialogue shows a push for stronger regional cooperation, especially during a time of global uncertainty and ongoing international conflicts.