How Trump’s tariff tirade may be fueling a Russia-India-China troika revival | Explained

Russian President Vladimir Putin is visiting India this month. This news comes while India is under strong pressure from the United States, which recently imposed 50% import tariffs on most Indian goods, except a few items like medicines and electronics.

Just one day earlier, it was also confirmed that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will travel to China at the end of this month for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit. There, he is expected to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping.

These two visits — Putin to India and Modi to China — are not just regular diplomatic meetings. Together, they may help revive an old alliance called the RIC troika — a strategic group involving Russia, India, and China.

The idea is that the three large countries might work together more closely again, especially as US President Donald Trump continues to take harsh trade actions and criticises India for staying close to Russia.

What is the RIC and why does it matter now?

The Russia-India-China (RIC) group was first proposed by former Russian Prime Minister Yevgeny Primakov in the 1990s. The goal was to balance Western power — especially the US — by bringing three big Asian powers together.

Over the years, RIC has held 20 high-level meetings, usually with foreign ministers from all three countries. However, things changed after the Galwan Valley clash in 2020, where Indian and Chinese soldiers had a deadly fight along the border. Since then, India has kept some distance from China, and RIC meetings became rare.

But now, the geopolitical situation is changing again:

• India continues to buy oil and military equipment from Russia.

• Trump’s US government has punished India with higher import taxes.

• Russia and China have both said they want RIC to start working again.

• India, too, has not ruled out restarting talks within this group.

In July 2025, India’s foreign ministry said it is open to discussions about reviving RIC, but only in a “mutually convenient” way — meaning when all three countries are ready. A spokesperson called RIC a “consultative format,” where the three nations meet to discuss global and regional issues that matter to them.

Why is RIC a concern for the US and the West?

The idea of the RIC working again is something that may worry Western countries, especially the US. Here’s why:

• Together, Russia, India, and China account for over 33% of the world’s GDP.

• All three are nuclear powers.

• They are all members of other powerful groups like BRICS, SCO, and the G20.

• They support a multipolar world, where no single country — like the US — can dominate.

By working together, RIC countries could counterbalance US influence in world politics, trade, and security.

Putin and Xi both support restarting RIC

According to Russian officials, both India and China have already been approached to talk about reviving the RIC group. Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Rudeko said that his country is already discussing the idea with both India and China. He said the RIC is important because all three are not only trading partners but also founders of BRICS.

China, too, has shown interest. A Chinese foreign ministry official recently said they want the RIC format to work again, as all three nations are big powers and share common goals in trade, security, and international affairs.

These shared views between Russia and China come at a time when both countries are also facing strong criticism from the US, just like India.

Will RIC be discussed during Putin’s visit to India?

There is a very good chance that when Putin visits India, the two sides will talk about the RIC group. Russia wants India to stay close and continue buying oil and weapons, while India wants to keep its foreign policy independent — without giving in to US pressure.

Even though India has stronger economic and tech ties with the US, the current trade war — with Trump slapping 50% tariffs on Indian goods — is straining that relationship.

Putin’s trip may show the world that India is not backing away from Russia, despite pressure from the West. At the same time, Modi’s upcoming visit to China could also show that India is ready to keep talking with both neighbours, even if the China border issue is still unresolved.

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Trump’s tariffs may be pushing the three nations closer

The latest US tariffs on Indian goods — which come on top of existing import duties — are seen by many experts as a trigger that could bring India, Russia, and China closer together again. The US decision to punish India for buying Russian oil has not gone down well in New Delhi.

Both Russia and China have criticised Trump’s tariffs and expressed support for India. This shared frustration with the US might be enough to restart cooperation within the RIC, as all three countries try to protect their own interests and stand up to Western pressure.

Even though there are challenges — like India-China border tensions — the larger picture of trade and diplomacy may encourage India to rethink its alliances and play a more balanced role in global politics.