The United States is reportedly concerned about Russia’s efforts to revive the Russia-India-China (RIC) cooperation framework, a trilateral format lying inactive since 2020. This concern stems from the potential implications for the US-led global order, as Russia, China, and India are all major global powers with significant influence. The US considers this revival as a potential threat to its dominance and a move towards a multipolar world. It is important to note that Russia has been actively pushing for the revival of the RIC format, with its Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov, recently expressing hope for its resumption. Russia views India and China as crucial partners in building a more equitable system of security and cooperation in Eurasia. Russia’s interest in reviving RIC may be driven by a desire to strengthen its ties with both China and India, two major global players, and to counterbalance Western influence. The RIC format provides a platform for these three countries to discuss key issues like trade, foreign policy, and energy. The US views the RIC revival with suspicion, as it sees it as a move by Russia and China to create an alternative geopolitical bloc challenging the US-led international order. The US also fears increased cooperation between Russia, China, and India on issues like energy and defence. India has been non-committal about the revival of the RIC format. The RIC format, which is also known as the RAIC (Russia, Asia, India, China) or the RIC troika, was established in the late 1990s, and more than 20 meetings have been held so far. The initiative, however, became inactive in 2020 following tensions between India and China, particularly after the Galwan Valley clash. While India maintains a strategic partnership with Russia and has growing ties with China, it also maintains a strong relationship with the US. India’s approach is likely to be cautious, carefully balancing its relationships with these major powers. India on Thursday indicated that any revival of the Russia-India-China (RIC) mechanism depends mainly on the mutual convenience of the three countries. This indication came hours after Beijing extended support to Russia’s initiative to revive the RIC mechanism, as it not only serves the interest of the three countries but also helps uphold the security and stability of the region.