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OPINION JULY 03, 2026 | The Indian Eye 10

Strengthening the Nested

Geometry of RIC–SCO–BRICS

The three groupings together address the three reference points: strategic autonomy,

strategic balancing and the Global South

PRASHANT KUMAR SINGH

ussian President Vladimir
Putin, on the sidelines of the
RSaint Petersburg Econom-
ic Forum on 4 June 2026, offered a
detailed appreciation of the complex
nature of India–China relations, their
leaders’ commitment to improving
bilateral ties, the positive results they
have produced, and Russia’s con-
structive ties with both. Responding
to the statement, China’s foreign
ministry spokesperson remarked that
“maintaining sound relations is not
only in the respective interests of the
three countries but also conducive to
regional and global peace, security,
stability and prosperity”. China was
“ready to keep in communication
with Russia and India on advancing
cooperation among the three coun-
tries” These statements were seen
as signs of willingness to revive the
dormant Russia–India–China (RIC) There is significant overlap among the three organisations in their membership, operating geographies and agendas (File photo)
cooperation framework.
South would explain its robust en- Goldman Sachs report that proposed in the region” and to jointly “address
While the Government of India gagement with them. a BRIC grouping, comprising Brazil, new challenges and threats”, with the
Russia, India and China.
Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure
remains non-committal, there The Nested Geometry However, institutionally this (RATS) as the main security body.
of RIC–SCO–BRICS
is a perceptible undercurrent he three reference points ex- idea was first taken up at the first in- However, its agenda has evolved to
include trade and the economy as
formal RIC Summit Meeting in July
in a section of Indian commen- plain why India should contrib- 2006, held on the sidelines of the G-8 well, with the SCO Interbank Con-
tators in support of reviving Tute to the nested geometry of St Petersburg Summit. The foreign sortium emerging in 2005 and the
ministers of the BRIC countries held
SCO Business Council in 2006. A
RIC–SCO–BRICS. Nested geometry
RIC as well. places shapes and objects inside one an informal meeting to discuss it at demand to establish a SCO Develop-
another, showing an interconnected the time. Later, they approved the ment Bank has persisted since 2010.
The backdrop is the Trump ad- relation. Though the RIC–SCO– formation of BRIC in September At the 2025 SCO Summit, the mem-
ministration’s unpredictability in in- BRICS may not be technically nest- 2006 on the sidelines of the UNGA, ber states resolved to consult on mat-
ternational affairs; the internation- ed, a natural close connection does which later became BRICS with the ters related to this issue.
al fallout from the US–Israel–Iran exist among them. inclusion of South Africa in 2010. There is significant overlap
war; and the visible improvement The three groupings emerged The Shanghai-5 process that be- among the three organisations in
in India–China ties. India’s BRICS roughly during the same period in gan in 1996 for “confidence-building their membership, operating geog-
Presidency this year provides an the post-Cold War era. The RIC in the military sphere and the mutu- raphies and agendas. The three RIC
opportune context for serious con- emerged to manage the challenge al reduction of armed forces in the countries are among the four found-
sideration of this proposition and of US unipolarity. It began as a for- border area” among China, Russia, ing members of BRICS. The two
to strengthen the nested geome- eign-minister-level dialogue, an in- Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajiki- RIC countries, Russia and China, are
try of RIC–SCO–BRICS. India is formal meeting between the Russian, stan, and later joined by Uzbekistan, the prime movers of the SCO, where-
an important member in the three Indian and Chinese foreign ministers culminated in the SCO in 2001. Its as the third, India, though a late en-
non-Western groupings, and its com- on the sidelines of the UNGA in New main goals are to promote “multi- trant, is an important member. The
mitments to strategic autonomy, York in September 2002. The idea of lateral interaction to maintain and RIC represents the broader Eurasian
systemic balancing and the Global BRICS is commonly traced to a 2001 ensure peace, security and stability Continued on next page... >>

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