The phantom of RIC trilateral

Even in its current non-institutionalized form, the Russia-India-China trilateral is giving India a diplomatic leverage

- Harsh V Pant Aleksei Zakharov

The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Tianjin was marked by significant representation from the Global South, reminding that the organisation comprises 26 countries, including 10 full members, two observers, and 14 dialogue partners. Yet, one episode arguably stole the whole show. Images of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, President Xi Jinping, and President Vladimir Putin smiling during an informal conversation have widely circulated in the media, with some outlets billing this as a "shift in global power dynamics" or a "redrawn geopolitical map". The depth of this engagement and its geopolitical ramifications are significantly exaggerated, though one spectator, the US President Donald Trump, appears to have been spellbound.

The idea of a trilateral format dates back to the 1990s. Following its emergence in the form of foreign ministers' consultations in 2003, it has been one of the most consistent mechanisms of interaction, gathering uninterruptedly until late 2021. However, the appeal of the grouping has gradually evaporated owing to India-China divergences, eroding trust in the relationship.