Can RIC Really Challenge the West?

In a world increasingly shaped by power struggles, shifting alliances, and global uncertainty, one question keeps coming up in international circles: Can Russia, India, and China, the RIC trio, come together to challenge the West?

Attribution: kremlin.ru. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

For years, the RIC grouping was just an occasional diplomatic discussion, never quite living up to its potential. But recently, the idea has returned to the spotlight. With Moscow pushing hard for its revival and a changing global order, is RIC finally ready to step up as a serious counterweight to Western dominance?

Let’s break it down—simply, clearly, and honestly.

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What is RIC, Really?

RIC stands for Russia, India, and China—three major countries with enormous populations, powerful militaries, and global ambitions. Together, they represent around 40% of the world’s people and a significant chunk of the global economy.

Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi (left), President of Russia Vladimir Putin (centre), and President of the People’s Republic of China Xi Jinping. Photo by: Sergei Bobylev Source: Kremlin.ru. Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License

The concept of RIC isn’t new. It was first floated by Russian statesman Yevgeny Primakov in the late 1990s. His idea was to build a triangle of power that could push back against the unipolar world dominated by the United States after the Cold War. It was about balance. About building a multipolar world.

In theory, it sounded great. But in reality, things didn’t go so smoothly.

Why Is RIC Back in Focus Now?

Fast forward to 2025, and things are different. Russia is isolated due to the war in Ukraine and Western sanctions. China is locked in a growing cold war with the United States, facing tech bans and military containment. And India, while maintaining ties with the West, is also looking to strengthen its voice on global platforms.

Recently, Russia’s foreign minister Sergey Lavrov openly expressed Moscow’s strong interest in reviving the RIC format. He said now is the “right time” for the three countries to come together and shape global affairs.

So why now? Because for Russia and China especially, the West no longer feels like a place for negotiation—it feels like an opponent. And they’re looking for alternatives.

Moscow’s Motive: Isolation Pushes Partnership

Let’s start with Russia. It’s no secret that the country is facing one of its most isolated moments in recent history. After invading Ukraine, it has been hit with sanctions, kicked out of major financial systems, and largely shunned by Europe and the U.S.

RIC provides a powerful platform for Moscow to demonstrate its enduring global relevance. By strengthening its already robust relationships with India and China, Russia can unequivocally signal that it stands united with key international partners, reaffirming its significant role on the world stage.

More than that, Russia wants to help lead a new world order, one that isn’t built on Western values or institutions. For the Kremlin, RIC is not just a strategic alliance. It’s a statement of survival and resistance.

India’s Position: The Reluctant Middle

India’s role in RIC is tricky. On one hand, it has long-standing ties with Russia, and it shares China’s concerns about reforming global institutions that favor the West. But on the other hand, it has major security concerns with China, especially after the 2020 Galwan Valley clash, and is deepening its partnerships with the U.S., Japan, and Australia through the Quad.

India doesn’t want to pick sides. It wants to sit at every table, whether it’s RIC, BRICS, Quad, or the G20.

So, while India continues to attend RIC meetings and engage in dialogue, it’s not rushing to fully commit. New Delhi’s primary focus remains strategic autonomy, meaning it will act based on its own interests, not just alliances.

And when one of your RIC partners is building roads in disputed border areas and another is fighting a war that you’re diplomatically neutral about, trust doesn’t come easy.

China’s Game: Big Ambitions, Careful Moves

China, meanwhile, plays the long game. It sees RIC as one piece of a larger puzzle. For Beijing, the real prize is becoming the world’s leading power—and it knows it can’t do that alone.

RIC is useful for China because it helps build a broader anti-Western coalition. China is also promoting BRICS+, the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO). These platforms allow it to strengthen its influence in Asia, Africa, and beyond.

At the same time, China knows its relationship with India is fragile, and its friendship with Russia is built more on shared opposition to the West than genuine alignment.

So, China supports RIC, but cautiously. It won’t bet everything on it.

So, What’s the Problem?

The current geopolitical landscape, as we've explored, is undeniably complex, with the RIC grouping at its heart. To truly grasp the nuances of these power dynamics and predict their trajectory, a deeper dive into the historical context, strategic thinking, and internal challenges of each nation is essential. If you're eager to expand your understanding beyond this overview, I highly recommend exploring insightful books on the subject, such as Prisoners of Geography: Ten Maps That Tell You Everything You Need to Know About Global Politics by Tim Marshall.

While RIC looks powerful on paper, in reality, it faces serious challenges:

Attribution:Government of India (GODL-India)"Prime Minister's Office

This image captures Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a bilateral meeting with Chinese Communist Party General Secretary Xi Jinping on October 23, 2024, during the 16th BRICS Summit in Kazan, Russia.

1. India-China Tensions

There’s no avoiding it, India and China just don’t trust each other. After the violent border clash in 2020, the relationship hit a deep freeze. Military talks dragged on, and diplomatic warmth all but disappeared. But recently, there’s been a slight thaw. The two sides have quietly resumed more regular communication, eased some military positions along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), and even restarted limited bilateral exchanges.

It’s not a full reset but it’s something. Small steps like these matter. They may not erase deep-rooted suspicion overnight, but they suggest that both countries are realizing the cost of constant tension. Still, the question remains: how can two rivals with fresh scars and long memories build a united front?

2. Different Strategic Visions

Russia and China are more aligned in opposing the West. India is different. It wants reform, not rebellion. It wants to lead the Global South, not necessarily join an anti-Western bloc. This difference in worldview makes it hard to build a common agenda.

3. No Clear Roadmap

Unlike the Quad or NATO, RIC doesn’t have a charter, a treaty, or even a long-term plan. It meets occasionally, issues statements, and moves on. Without institutional structure, it’s hard to make real progress.

Where RIC Can Still Work

Despite all this, RIC does have value, especially in areas where the members’ interests align. Some possible areas of cooperation include:

• Reforming global institutions like the UN, IMF, and World Bank to better reflect 21st-century realities.

• Speaking for the Global South, especially on trade, climate, and development issues.

• Pushing back against Western actions—for example, on sanctions, military interventions, or tech restrictions.

• Cooperation on climate change, energy security, and public health.

RIC may help maintain diplomatic communication between India and China, especially during tense periods. However, actual de-escalation of military tensions typically occurs through bilateral mechanisms, not multilateral formats like RIC. Still, regular dialogue in forums like RIC can help prevent complete breakdowns in communication.

Can RIC Challenge the West?

So here’s the big question: Can RIC really challenge the West?

The honest answer? Not in its current form.

RIC is divided. India and China don’t trust each other. Russia is isolated and increasingly dependent on China. And while the three countries agree on broad goals like multipolarity, they differ on how to get there.

To seriously challenge Western dominance, RIC would need to go from talking to doing—creating institutions, signing agreements, and building long-term partnerships. That won’t happen until its members sort out their differences and build real trust.

Still, the fact that RIC is even being revived tells us something important: The world is changing. The old order, where the West led and others followed, is being questioned more than ever.

RIC might not be the answer, but it’s a sign that many countries are looking for one.

Final Thoughts

RIC is an idea with history, potential, and purpose. But it’s also a group full of contradictions. Can it change the world? Maybe one day, but not unless it learns to fix itself first.

For now, RIC is more of a conversation than a revolution. But in the unpredictable world of global politics, even conversations can change the game.