NEW DELHI (Diya TV) — Speculation is growing over the possible revival of the Russia-India-China (RIC) trilateral meeting format. While China and Russia have expressed support for restarting talks, India has made it clear that no such meeting has been scheduled yet.

The RIC format, a diplomatic platform where the three major powers discuss global and regional issues, has been inactive in recent years. The COVID-19 pandemic and rising tensions along the India-China border halted progress. Despite this, Beijing and Moscow continue to voice strong interest in reactivating the mechanism.

At a weekly media briefing on Thursday, Indian External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal responded to a question about the RIC talks.

“This consultative format is a mechanism where the three countries come and discuss global issues and regional issues of interest to them,” Jaiswal said. He added that any meeting under the RIC format would be scheduled “in a mutually convenient manner” by the three nations.

Official sources in New Delhi clarified that there is no agreement at present to hold a meeting. They also confirmed that no discussions are currently underway to schedule one.

Earlier in the day, the Chinese Foreign Ministry voiced strong support for reviving the RIC talks. Speaking at a press conference, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said, “China-Russia-India cooperation not only serves the respective interests of the three countries but also helps uphold peace, security, stability, and progress in the region and the world.”

He added that China is “ready to maintain communication with Russia and India on advancing trilateral cooperation.”

In Moscow, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Rudenko echoed this sentiment. According to Russian media reports, Rudenko said that Moscow expects the RIC format to resume soon. He also noted that discussions with both Beijing and New Delhi are ongoing.

“This topic appears in our negotiations with both of them,” Rudenko said. “We are interested in making this format work because these three countries are important partners, besides the founders of BRICS.”

The RIC framework has existed for over two decades. The format brought together foreign ministers of Russia, India, and China to hold periodic consultations. These meetings aimed to foster cooperation and discuss global issues, including trade, security, and geopolitics.

However, the format has lost momentum in recent years. First, the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted regular diplomatic engagements. Then, the India-China military standoff in Eastern Ladakh further strained relations.

In 2023, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov acknowledged that the RIC mechanism had stalled due to these challenges.

Despite statements from Beijing and Moscow, India has taken a cautious stance. Government sources emphasized that no date has been set and no planning is underway. News agency ANI also cited official sources, saying that speculation about a scheduled meeting is premature.

For now, the RIC remains a dormant but potentially valuable platform. It could play a key role in managing global issues and reducing tensions among the three major powers. But its future depends on mutual understanding and diplomatic flexibility.

The revival of the RIC talks would mark a significant moment in Asian geopolitics. It would also reflect changing alliances and a shifting world order, especially within platforms like BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).

As China and Russia push for closer ties with India under the RIC umbrella, the response from New Delhi will be closely watched. India’s strategic priorities, including its security concerns along the China border, will play a key role in shaping the outcome.

For now, the message from India is clear: the RIC format may resume, but only when all three countries find the right moment.