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OPINION JULY 03, 2026 | The Indian Eye 11

region, while the SCO clearly oper-
ates within the same region to ad-
dress security issues.
BRICS, with its much wider
membership, is largely dependent on
the economic size and wider cooper-
ation of China, India and Russia to
play a meaningful role in providing
an alternative geo-economic fulcrum
to the world. Brazil, a non-Eurasian
country and the world’s tenth-largest
economy, also has an important role
to play. Of these four, the quality of
political and security relations among
Russia, China and India is crucial to
the success of BRICS. At the same
time, the overall security-strategic
dynamics of the Eurasian region af-
fect the quality of relations between
the two.
The three groupings together
address the three reference points:
strategic autonomy, strategic balanc-
ing and the Global South. Although
the global power configuration has
undergone significant changes since The three RIC countries are among the four founding members of BRICS (File photo)
the RIC’s formation, multi-polarity
remains the ideal.
aratism and extremism that has a with a ‘managed G-2’ with the US engagement in the Indo-Pacific. At
bearing on India’s national security. in future, whereas Russia sticks to the same time, Eurasian processes
The last iteration of the RIC re- Pakistan’s collusion with such forces multi-polarity. Therefore, the latter are important for resource and phys-
affirmed support for a “rebal- adds another layer of complexity to would have the motivation to keep In- ical security, as well as for reforming
dia invested in the regional scenario.
the global order. Participation in pro-
the regional situation for India, as it
anced” world. India and Chi- commands a strategic location in the India will also share the same cesses of both regions also ensures
na lead the campaign for the wider Eurasian region and harbours consideration. This is not to sug- strategic balancing across contested
active hostility towards India. Fur- gest that India needs the RIC for its geopolitical spaces. That India re-
Global South. Russia, which thermore, the region is important Central Asian outreach. Still, it does mains invested and active on both
identifies as a non-Western for energy security and for transport have a role to play in ensuring strate- fronts is the crux of India’s strategic
corridors, such as the TAPI and the gic coordination and communication autonomy.
power that inherits the Soviet International North-South Transport among the region’s leading coun- India’s BRICS presidency, re-
tradition of socialism, adheres Corridor (INSTC). However, prog- tries, which will make India’s pres- cent signals about the RIC, and the
ress on these initiatives remains elu- ence more of a net positive. Thus, improvement of India–China rela-
to the idea of multi-polarity, sive and subpar. there is impeccable logic in reviving tions come at a time when the US is
demands reforms in global gov- Given their geographical and the RIC, which should, in turn, make sending ambiguous signals about its
economic size and the scale of their the SCO and BRICS processes even commitment to the Indo-Pacific and
ernance, and considers itself a capabilities, a natural Eurasian trian- more meaningful. Trilateral National the Quad. It is thus an opportune
natural ally. gle involving Russia, India and Chi- Security Advisor and secretary-lev- time to take steps to transcend ‘emo-
na exists that needs to be leveraged. el meetings should be considered. tional’ partnerships, framing traps
India sits on a commanding height It should, in fact, be considered for and simplistic binaries. Fluctuations
On questions of global gover- in the broader Eurasian landmass. upgradation to regular summit-level in India’s relations with either power
nance reforms, alternative finan- Having uninterrupted strategic com- meetings. in either quarter should not be per-
cial architectures, and respect for munication with its two most import- mitted to sway fundamental calcula-
non-intervention and sovereignty, ant peers in the region, Russia and Conclusion tions. The essence lies in conviction
their views converge substantially. China, is only rational. Considering trategic autonomy is not about and consistency.
Mini-lateral coordination among the importance of the broader re- ad hoc transactionalism. It is Dr. Prashant Kumar Singh follows the
them is even more relevant amid de- gion, sustained triangular strategic Sabout anchoring one’s foreign strategic and domestic affairs of China.
stabilising political and economic uni- communication is by itself a strategic policy on stable, durable pillars that He is also a keen follower of state and
lateralism from certain quarters of the gain. It gives a positive signal to inter- must be safeguarded from external society in Taiwan.
world. Their strategic coordination national and domestic constituencies pressures. Multi-alignment is such a
is required to strengthen the nested while helping to build confidence central pillar in India’s foreign policy. Views expressed are of the author and
geometry of the RIC–SCO–BRICS. among them. India’s geopolitical position straddles do not necessarily reflect the views of
Furthermore, this triangle the Manohar Parrikar IDSA or of the
India’s Stakes in Reviving should not be allowed to be skewed both the Eurasian and Indo-Pacif- Government of India.
the RIC by any one party to the detriment of ic regions, with abiding interests in The full version of this article first ap-
both. Sustained and mutually bene-
ndia has vital geopolitical and others in the region, nor should any ficial engagement must be pursued peared in the Comments section of the
geo-economic interests in re- one angle of the triangle be allowed without let or hindrance from any website (www.idsa.in) of Manohar Par-
Igional security and stability. The to dominate the others. external quarter. Sizable economic rikar Institute for Defense Studies and
region is a hotbed of terrorism, sep- China may not be uncomfortable and technological stakes drive India’s Analyses, New Delhi, on June 24, 2026

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