China has said to re-activate the Russia-India-China tripartite cooperation structure. Beijing has supported the steps taken by Russia in this direction. China says that this trilateral cooperation is not only in the interest of these three countries. It is also very important for global and regional stability and security.
Initiative started from Moscow
In a conversation with the local media, Russian Deputy Minister Andrei Rudankco informed that Moscow wants the RIC format to work effectively. He informed that Russia is discussing with Russia, India and China on this subject. According to Rudenco, all three have been the major partners among the countries laying the foundation of BRICS. Therefore, it will be natural and beneficial to resume this tripartite structure.
He also said that the absence of this cooperation is a big mistake and when mutual relations will reach that level. Where all the three countries can work easily, then it will be possible to re -activate Ric.
China expressed a desire for cooperation
Reacting to this attitude of Russia, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said in a press conference that the RIC cooperation system is not only for the mutual interests of the three countries. It can also contribute to global peace, development and stability. China has expressed a desire to maintain dialogue with India and Russia in this direction.
Revenge landscape after India’s SCO visit
Recently Foreign Minister S.K. During Jaishankar’s visit to China, he also met his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavarov. Only after this, discussions of RIC’s revival have intensified. It is believed that this meeting has given a new direction to track-2 diplomacy.
Tension was obstructed in eastern Ladakh
This structure of negotiations came in 2020 when military tension arose in East Ladakh between India and China. Earlier, RIC activities also came to a standstill due to the Kovid-19 epidemic. Lavrov admitted last year that the tripartite platform had become inactive for this reason. However, after the meeting of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping during the BRICS summit, efforts to normalize bilateral relations between the two countries have intensified.
Efforts to coordinate continue
Foreign Minister Jaishankar’s visit, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Defense Minister Rajnath Singh’s visit were followed by China. This shows that efforts to bring India-China relations back on track are continuously happening at the government level.
This tripartite platform is strategically important for Russia. Lavarov reiterated in May that Moscow’s interest is in re -activating the structure. It is also noteworthy that this format was started by former Prime Minister of Russia Yevgeni Primkov and 20 meetings have been organized so far.
China’s increased concern over changing equations
China’s concern is also that India is now part of Quad. Beijing considers this alliance a challenge for its strategic interests. At the same time, China’s deepest closeness with Pakistan has deepened the gap between India-China. Due to which the usefulness of RIC was limited.
At the same time, Ukraine is concerned about the new equations formed between Russia, India and the European Union due to war. Russian analysts believe that any type of multilateral cooperation in Eurasia can be helpful towards reducing conflicts. Analysts say that in view of the traditional relations between India and Russia, New Delhi has a special role in the platform like RIC. Also, Moscow’s activism can help in making this format again effective.
