Implications of Russia-India-China Trilateral Cooperation

The report assesses early but constrained trilateral cooperation among China, India, and Russia following the 2025 SCO Summit, driven by shared interests in multipolarity and reactions to U.S. sanctions and tariffs. It details strong China–Russia political, economic, military, and influence ties; a tentative thaw in China–India relations amid persistent distrust, border disputes, and economic frictions; and India–Russia continuity rooted in energy and arms—concluding that while BRICS, SCO, and a revived RIC could enable selective economic coordination, enduring strategic divergences—especially between Beijing and New Delhi—make a durable political or military bloc unlikely in the near term.