NEW DELHI – National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, currently in Russia, has confirmed that President Vladimir Putin will visit India. However, the dates for the visit are still being finalized. This would be Putin’s first visit since the start of the Russia-Ukraine war and will be closely watched, especially by the United States.
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The visit comes amid rising tensions, as the US has imposed a 50 percent tariff on India over its continued purchase of Russian oil. President Donald Trump has accused India of funding Russia’s war machine through these oil imports.
Putin’s visit is significant given several ongoing global developments. While India has moved closer to the United States in recent years through initiatives like the Quad, New Delhi maintains that its relationship with Moscow remains steady and time-tested.
During the visit, Putin is expected to hold high-stakes meetings with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. While the official agenda remains unclear, there is speculation that the Russia-India-China (RIC) trilateral format could be revived. Although any such revival would require China’s participation, many see Putin’s visit as a possible starting point.
The RIC, once viewed as a counterweight to Western influence, is regaining relevance. Under Trump’s administration, all three nations—Russia, India, and China—are facing increasing economic pressure from the West.
Another factor pointing to a possible recalibration is Modi’s upcoming visit to China on August 31 for the Shanghai Cooperation Summit. He is expected to meet President Xi Jinping during that trip. If the meetings go well, the RIC could emerge as a powerful bloc to counter mounting Western pressure.
Russia is particularly eager to revive the RIC, which has been dormant for some time. In May, Moscow emphasized the need to bring the format back, hoping to reposition itself at the center of Eurasian diplomacy.
With Russia under heavy sanctions and China facing trade restrictions, the current global climate presents a shared incentive for the RIC nations to align more closely.
India, which had distanced itself from the RIC in recent years due to border tensions with China, may now be reconsidering its stance in light of shifting geopolitical realities. Both Russia and China remain crucial to India’s energy security, and the RIC could serve as a buffer against Western pressure.
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The RIC format was introduced in the 1990s by former Russian Prime Minister Yevgeny Primakov, who envisioned it as a counterbalance to Western dominance. Though there have been 20 ministerial-level meetings, the format lost momentum after the 2020 Galwan Valley clash. (IANS)
