Moscow keen to relaunch trilateral cooperation among Russia, India, and China under RIC format

Moscow is keen to relaunch trilateral cooperation among Russia, India, and China under the RIC format, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has said. The comments assume significance amid the turbulent geopolitics instigated by the policies of the Trump administration.

Lavrov, while addressing the media on Tuesday about Moscow’s diplomatic achievements in 2025, said that multipolarity will continue to grow in the global order largely due to the vital importance of BRICS countries and African nations.

“We will bring back this association. It was the forerunner of BRICS. It is there…nobody has abandoned it,” Lavrov, while referring to RIC.


“It cannot be put back into the framework of the bipolar or unipolar world. There are many growth points I mentioned-China, India, Brazil, Africa...going through a second renaissance,” he added.

On September 1 PM Narendra Modi, Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping held an informal RIC (Russia-India-China) meet in Tianjin ahead of SCO Summit opening session in a display of Eurasian camaraderie and sending a powerful message amid Trump's approach that has disrupted geopolitics.

During his first visit to China in seven years, it may be recalled that Modi took the hands of his counterparts – Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping – and pulled them closer. As the three leaders mingled, one interpreter translated Putin’s words, which began with “We three friends …”, Modi was seen enjoying the conversation and clasped Putin’s hands a second time.