Russia-India-China (RIC) Troika: Significance & Challenges

At the ongoing SCO Summit, Russia aims to revive the dormant RIC Troika as a strategic cushion against isolation and a tool to weather rising global trade tensions.

Russia-India-China (RIC) Troika

RIC Troika was first conceptualised by former Russian PM Yevgeny Primakov in the 1990s, a time when Russia was trying to find its place on the global stage following the collapse of the USSR.
It was institutionalised in the early 2000s, holding over 20 ministerial-level consultations since inception.
Purpose: It seeks to counter Western dominance by leveraging the economic, military and demographic heft of three populous, resource-rich nations.
Significance: The three countries account for $53.9 trillion in GDP (PPP), nearly a third of the world’s total output and a combined population of 3.1 billion, roughly 38% of humanity.
- Each brings distinct strengths: China’s manufacturing might, Russia’s energy dominance, and India’s dynamic service economy.
The grouping signals a shift from a unipolar world dominated by the West to a multipolar order where Eurasian trade corridors and local currencies challenge the supremacy of the US dollar.
The grouping became largely inactive following the India-China Galwan border confrontation in 2020.

US Protectionism: Resurgence of American protectionist measures, including renewed tariffs and trade restrictions, has incentivised Russia, India, and China to explore joint mechanisms for countering rising barriers in global trade.
Sanctions Impact: Imposition of stringent Western sanctions on Russia has accelerated Moscow’s pivot towards Asian economies.
Financial Autonomy: Increasing weaponisation of the US dollar has pushed RIC members to promote non-Western payment systems and alternative financial instruments to safeguard their economic sovereignty.
Trade Diversification: Global supply chain disruptions have pushed RIC countries to seek reliable intra-trilateral trade channels to reduce external vulnerability.
Institutional Reform: Members seek more decisive influence in UN, IMF, and WTO reforms.

Eurasian Weight: Three major powers collectively influence Eurasia’s strategic and economic balance.
Economic Share: Over one-third of global GDP gives RIC substantial negotiating leverage.
Multipolarity: Promotes balanced global governance, challenging dominance of single power blocs.
UNSC Leverage: Joint backing from Russia and China strengthens India’s membership prospects.
Security Platform: Facilitates crisis dialogue and conflict management in regional hotspots.
Integration Synergy: Advances coordination of Eurasian connectivity, trade, & infrastructure initiatives.

India-China Rivalry: Mistrust between India and China, rooted in unresolved border disputes and the 2020 Galwan clashes, obstruct deeper political and strategic trust.
Divergent strategic priorities: India pursues multi-alignment with the West, China positions itself as a systemic challenger to US primacy, and Russia seeks Western concessions to secure its own security interests.
Trust Deficit: Historical rivalries constrain meaningful defence and intelligence collaboration.
Western Engagements: India’s growing Western ties dilute trilateral cohesion. Indo-Pacific security commitments complicate India’s role in RIC.
China’s Economic Dominance: China’s economic clout and the ambition of its Belt and Road Initiative often overshadow more modest India–Russia contributions.
Geopolitical divergence: The three countries have conflicting policies toward Afghanistan, West Asia, and the Indo-Pacific.
Institutional shallowness: Lack of strong institutional mechanisms, such as a secretariat or binding agreements. Its meetings are irregular, and outcomes often duplicate those of larger forums like BRICS or SCO.

Diplomatic Buffer: Despite the India–China trust deficit, participation allows India to avoid diplomatic isolation in Eurasia and maintain functional ties with Moscow, especially given Russia’s growing dependence on Beijing.
Diplomatic Signalling: Even if fragile, RIC provides a forum for high-level dialogue amidst fractured global politics. Its very existence embodies multipolarity and the effort to carve out non-Western platforms.
Voice for Global South: ARIC enhances the collective bargaining power of Asian powers in pushing for reforms in institutions like the UN, IMF, and WTO, amplifying the voice of the Global South.