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Russia Today
19-07-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
China backs trilateral cooperation with Russia and India
Beijing is ready to advance trilateral cooperation with Moscow and New Delhi under the RIC (Russia-India-China) format, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman has said. This statement came a few hours after Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko said Moscow is holding discussions with its two key partners to revive the format. 'China-India-Russia cooperation not only serves the respective interests of the three countries, but also helps uphold peace and security and progress in the region and the world,' Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said at a briefing in Beijing on Thursday. 'China stands ready to maintain communication with Russia and India on advancing the trilateral cooperation.' The geopolitical troika was first conceptualized by Russian statesman and former prime minister Yevgeny Primakov in the 1990s to challenge the unipolar world order established by the United States. Although the idea was subsumed by BRICS, the foreign ministers of Russia, India and China have held 18 meetings in the RIC format. 🇷🇺🇮🇳🇨🇳RIC Troika Aligns with Respective Interests – Beijing 'China is willing to maintain communication with Russia and India to advance trilateral cooperation,' 🇨🇳FM spox Lin Jian cooperation also 'contributes to regional and global peace, security, stability, and… 'We are interested in bringing this format back to life because these three countries are not only important partners but also founding members of BRICS,' Rudenko said on Thursday. 'The absence of the RIC mechanism seems inappropriate under current global conditions.' New Delhi has also confirmed the talks with Moscow and Beijing. 'As to when this particular RIC format meeting is going to be held, it is something that will be worked out among the three countries in a mutually convenient manner, and we will let you know as and when that happens at an appropriate time when the meeting is to take place,' Indian Foreign Ministry spokesman Randhir Jaiswal said on Thursday. In June, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said the recent thaw in relations between India and China presented a good opportunity to revive the trilateral group. 'Now that, as I understand it, an understanding is being reached between India and China on how to calm the border situation, I believe the time has come to revive the RIC trio,' he said at a Eurasian security conference.
Malaysia Sun
18-07-2025
- Politics
- Malaysia Sun
China backs trilateral cooperation with Russia and India
The RIC format contributes to global peace, security and stability, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesman has said Beijing is ready to advance trilateral cooperation with Moscow and New Delhi under the RIC (Russia-India-China) format, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesman has said. This statement came a few hours after Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko said that Moscow is holding discussions with its two key partners to revive the format. "China-India-Russia cooperation not only serves the respective interests of the three countries, but also helps uphold peace and security and progress in the region and the world," Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Lin Jian said at a briefing in Beijing on Thursday. "China stands ready to maintain communication with Russia and India on advancing the trilateral cooperation." The geopolitical troika was first conceptualized by Russian statesman and former prime minister Yevgeny Primakov in the 1990s to challenge the unipolar world order established by the United States. Although the idea was subsumed by BRICS, the foreign ministers of Russia, India and China have held 18 meetings in the RIC format. "We are interested in bringing this format back to life because these three countries are not only important partners but also founding members of BRICS," Rudenko said on Thursday. "The absence of the RIC mechanism seems inappropriate under current global conditions." New Delhi has also confirmed the talks with Moscow and Beijing. "As to when this particular RIC format meeting is going to be held, it is something that will be worked out among the three countries in a mutually convenient manner, and we will let you know as and when that happens at an appropriate time when the meeting is to take place," Indian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Randhir Jaiswal said on Thursday. In June, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said the recent thaw in relations between India and China presented a good opportunity to revive the trilateral group. "Now that, as I understand it, an understanding is being reached between India and China on how to calm the border situation, I believe the time has come to revive the RIC trio," he said at a Eurasian security conference. (
Russia Today
18-07-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
China ready to advance trilateral cooperation with Russia and India
Beijing is ready to advance trilateral cooperation with Moscow and New Delhi under the RIC (Russia-India-China) format, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesman has said. This statement came a few hours after Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko said that Moscow is holding discussions with its two key partners to revive the format. 'China-India-Russia cooperation not only serves the respective interests of the three countries, but also helps uphold peace and security and progress in the region and the world,' Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Lin Jian said at a briefing in Beijing on Thursday. 'China stands ready to maintain communication with Russia and India on advancing the trilateral cooperation.' The geopolitical troika was first conceptualized by Russian statesman and former prime minister Yevgeny Primakov in the 1990s to challenge the unipolar world order established by the United States. Although the idea was subsumed by BRICS, the foreign ministers of Russia, India and China have held 18 meetings in the RIC format. 🇷🇺🇮🇳🇨🇳RIC Troika Aligns with Respective Interests – Beijing 'China is willing to maintain communication with Russia and India to advance trilateral cooperation,' 🇨🇳FM spox Lin Jian cooperation also 'contributes to regional and global peace, security, stability, and… 'We are interested in bringing this format back to life because these three countries are not only important partners but also founding members of BRICS,' Rudenko said on Thursday. 'The absence of the RIC mechanism seems inappropriate under current global conditions.' New Delhi has also confirmed the talks with Moscow and Beijing. 'As to when this particular RIC format meeting is going to be held, it is something that will be worked out among the three countries in a mutually convenient manner, and we will let you know as and when that happens at an appropriate time when the meeting is to take place,' Indian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Randhir Jaiswal said on Thursday. In June, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said the recent thaw in relations between India and China presented a good opportunity to revive the trilateral group. 'Now that, as I understand it, an understanding is being reached between India and China on how to calm the border situation, I believe the time has come to revive the RIC trio,' he said at a Eurasian security conference.
Russia Today
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
Russia took Afghanistan without firing a shot
When Russia recognized the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan last week, it didn't just open a new embassy – it opened a new geopolitical front. For the first time since the Taliban's return to power in 2021, a major world player has gone beyond informal contacts and embraced Kabul's de facto rulers as legitimate partners. On July 1, Taliban envoy Gul Hassan presented copies of his credentials to Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko. Two days later, Moscow made it official: the Islamic Emirate was now recognized – diplomatically, politically, and symbolically. The move followed a crucial domestic decision in April, when Russia removed the Taliban from its national list of terrorist organizations – a status that had persisted for more than twenty years. The Foreign Ministry framed the recognition as a pragmatic step toward security cooperation, economic dialogue, and regional stabilization. In Kabul, the reaction was swift. The Taliban welcomed the Russian gesture as a possible catalyst for wider international engagement. They had reason to – despite harsh rhetoric, even the West has kept indirect channels open. But no one had dared take the leap. Until now. This isn't Russia's first chapter in Afghan affairs. Back in 2021, it kept its embassy running while Western diplomats fled. And long before that, in 1989, Soviet troops withdrew from a decade-long war against the mujahideen, many of whom would go on to form the core of the modern Taliban. In that light, Moscow's latest decision seems less like a departure and more like continuity by other means. For Moscow, recognition is not just about diplomacy – it's about security. With formal ties in place, Russia now has a channel for demanding real cooperation from the Taliban on issues that matter most: containing radical groups and protecting Central Asia's fragile stability. The urgency is not theoretical. In March 2024, a deadly terrorist attack on Crocus City Hall shook the Russian capital. According to official reports, the perpetrators were linked to Khurasan Wilayah – a branch of ISIS that considers the Taliban too moderate and Russia an enemy. This incident shifted the calculus in the Kremlin. If the Taliban control the ground, then working with them – however distasteful to some – becomes a strategic necessity. In 2024, Vladimir Putin publicly referred to the Taliban as a partner in the fight against terrorism – a signal that Moscow views them not as a problem, but as part of the solution. Recognition is a way to formalize that logic – to move from ad-hoc contacts to structured expectations. Russia is not simply offering legitimacy; it is also asking for responsibility. With recognition comes access – and Afghanistan has plenty to offer. Rich in lithium, rare earth elements, and untapped mineral wealth, the country has become a target for global economic interests. Now that formal ties are in place, Russian companies can enter the market with legal cover and diplomatic support. But this isn't just about minerals. It's also about momentum. Russian exports are already flowing into Afghan markets, while Afghan agricultural products – from dried fruits to herbs – are showing up on store shelves in Russian regions. According to the Financial Times, Moscow is quietly building a trade corridor while others hesitate. Geography does the rest. Afghanistan sits at a crossroads – a land bridge between Central and South Asia, offering future access to Pakistan, India, and the Indian Ocean. For Russia, this is about more than strategy. It's about logistics. In an era of sanctions and shifting trade routes, every new corridor matters. Recognition is Moscow's ticket in – and it wants to be first at the table. In Washington and Brussels, Afghanistan is still viewed through the lens of defeat – a retreat, a failure, and a lingering embarrassment. Officially, the Taliban remain pariahs. Unofficially, backchannels are open. Diplomats talk, intelligence agencies coordinate. But no Western country has dared take the next step. Russia just did. Could this provoke new sanctions from the US or EU? Perhaps. But with Russia already under one of the harshest sanction regimes in modern history, the cost of further penalties is marginal. The ceiling has already been reached. Instead, recognition gives Moscow first-mover advantage – both in Kabul and across the region. While others worry about headlines, Russia is shaping realities on the ground. It is doing so not just with gas and guns, but with memory: in Central Asia, Russia still carries weight as a former security guarantor and post-Soviet stabilizer. That credibility now returns to the table. Russia has done this before. In 1997, it helped end a brutal civil war in Tajikistan by brokering a deal between warring factions. Those efforts are still remembered in Dushanbe – and they echo today. Tensions between the Taliban and Tajik authorities remain high. But Russia, trusted by both sides and embedded in regional security structures, is uniquely positioned to mediate. The same applies to Afghanistan's rocky relations with Turkmenistan, where border disputes and political distrust linger. This is where recognition becomes more than a headline – it becomes leverage. Moscow can now convene, propose, and shape talks that others can't. While Western powers watch from afar, Russia is turning Afghanistan from a global problem into a regional process. The ultimate play? Energy. With its early commercial footprint in Kabul and longstanding vision of an Eurasian energy corridor, Moscow sees Afghanistan not just as a risk to manage – but as a bridge to build.
Egypt Independent
05-07-2025
- Business
- Egypt Independent
Russia becomes first nation to recognize Taliban government of Afghanistan since 2021 takeover
CNN — Russia has become the first nation to recognize the Taliban government of Afghanistan since it took power in 2021, announcing on Thursday it has accepted an ambassador from the Islamist group. 'We believe that the act of official recognition of the government of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan will give impetus to the development of productive bilateral cooperation between our countries in various fields,' the Russian foreign ministry said in a statement. 'We see significant prospects for cooperation in the trade and economic area with an emphasis on projects in the fields of energy, transport, agriculture, and infrastructure,' the statement continues. 'We will continue to assist Kabul in strengthening regional security and combating the threats of terrorism and drug-related crime.' The statement by the Russian ministry was accompanied by a photo of the new Afghan ambassador to Russia, Gul Hassan Hassan, handing his credentials to Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko. In a post on X, alongside pictures of Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi meeting with Russian Ambassador to Kabul Dmitry Zhirnov, the Taliban's foreign ministry hailed the decision as positive and important. Thawing ties with the outside world Russia's recognition is historically significant. The former Soviet Union fought a 9-year war in Afghanistan that ended with Moscow withdrawing its troops in 1989 following their defeat by the Afghan mujahideen, some of whom later founded the modern Taliban. In the aftermath of the 2021 US withdrawal from Afghanistan, Russia was one of a few nations to maintain a diplomatic presence in the country. Russia removed its designation of the Taliban as a terrorist group in April 2025. While the Taliban has exchanged ambassadors with China and the United Arab Emirates, and has a long-standing political office in Qatar, those countries do not recognize it as the government of Afghanistan. The lack of recognition has not prevented Afghanistan's new rulers from doing business with the outside world. In 2023, a Chinese oil company signed an oil extraction deal with the Taliban. Moreover, the Taliban has angled for the recognition of another former adversary: the United States. Efforts have reportedly ramped up since US President Donald Trump began his second term earlier this year. March 2025 saw the release of two Americans from Afghanistan, along with the US removing millions of dollars of bounties from three Taliban officials. People familiar with American conversations with the Islamist group told CNN in April that the Taliban has proposed numerous steps toward US recognition, including the creation of an embassy-like office within the US to handle Afghan issues. 'You need to be forthcoming and take a risk,' US officials told the Taliban during a March meeting to secure an American prisoner's release, according to the person familiar with the proceedings. 'Do this, it will likely open up the door for a better relationship.' It wasn't the first time the US had diplomatically engaged with the Taliban. In the last year of his first term, Trump reached an agreement with the group for a full US withdrawal by 2021. The deal achieved a chaotic fulfillment as the Taliban swept to power during former US President Joe Biden's first summer in the White House.
