Russia and China Push to Revive Strategic Troika with India—But Will New Delhi Join?

Russia and China are actively seeking to revive the long-dormant Russia-India-China (RIC) trilateral mechanism, positioning it as a counterweight in the shifting global order.

Both Moscow and Beijing have publicly expressed support for renewed cooperation, emphasizing the bloc's potential to enhance regional and global stability. However, India remains cautious and non-committal, citing 'mutual convenience' as a prerequisite and expressing concerns over its complex relationships with both countries, especially amid ongoing border tensions with China and strong ties with the US. The RIC format, which saw regular meetings in the past, has been largely inactive due to geopolitical frictions and the pandemic.

The current diplomatic maneuvering reflects broader efforts by Russia and China to diversify alliances and reduce Western influence, but India's hesitancy signals that a full revival of the troika is far from certain.