India & the world - Articles

India, Russia and China: New Steps in Trilateral Cooperation

The idea of an institutional forum bringing together India, China and Russia has been contemplated since the end of the Cold War. This proposal was first mooted in 1998 by the then Russian Premier Yevgeny Primakov. The Chinese, who were initially cool about the proposal, revived it in 2000. India's strategic calculus also called for cooperation across a broad swathe of issues with China and Russia and in July 2006, the heads of India, China and Russia met on the sidelines of the G-8 meeting at St. Petersburg, Russia. The recently concluded New Delhi trilateral forum meeting between the Foreign Ministers of these countries is the latest of such interactions which attract attention due to the political and economic synergies that such cooperation can generate.

In the political front, these three major powers can buttress the Asian security system which is currently in a state of flux. Regional security concerns and terrorism in West and Central Asia directly impinge upon the internal security of India, Russia and China. The evils and economic roots of terrorism were highlighted by these countries at the 43rd Munich Conference on Security held in mid-February 2007.

Measures to promote capacity building in troubled areas to fight terrorism in the short run, and economic cooperation to hitch the economies of backward and troubled regions to the growing economies of India, China and Russia in the long run, can create an arc of prosperity across Asia. Promoting development is an effective long term strategy that can be used to negate the attractiveness of conflict. As terrorism has cross-border ramifications, a blueprint for coordinated actions and intelligence-sharing against factors that feed international terrorism, including its financing, illegal drug trafficking and transnational organized crime should be chalked out. The three countries should use their global influence to ensure the implementation of the International Convention for Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism and early adoption in the United Nations of the India-sponsored draft on the Convention on International Terrorism to strengthen the legal basis for fighting terrorism. India's observer status in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) will provide an institutionalized mechanism to formulate counter-terrorism strategies.

The three countries have affirmed the merits of democratization and multipolarity in international relations but made it clear, that the forum it was not directed against any country. It will not be in India's national interest if such a forum be perceived in Washington as an anti-US bloc. This is so because at the Munich Security Conference, the Russian President Vladimir Putin had dubbed unipolarity and the hyper use of force as pernicious and questioned the global interference policy of the US. However, while India recognizes that good relations with the US is in its national interest, this does not mean compromising the independent nature of India's foreign policy or the integrity of its strategic programmes - a fact asserted by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh while replying to a discussion in Parliament on the Indo-US Civilian Nuclear issue on 17 August 2006. India's participation in the trilateral forum seeks only to forge multi-directional partnerships across the globe.

The visit of the heads of China and Russia to New Delhi in November 2006 and January 2007 respectively, has definitely set India's bilateral relationships with both these countries on a new high. Nevertheless, India still has to resolve the boundary issue with China and is wary of the Sino-Pakistan "all weather" relationship. While recognizing India's intentions to play a greater role in the UN, Russia and China stopped short of endorsing India's permanent membership bid in the UN Security Council. Russia is also apprehensive of Chinese intentions in Central Asia, which the former perceives to be its backyard. Accordingly, a host of issues need to be resolved to build a solid political foundation for this trilateral forum.

Brazil, Russia, India and China (BRIC) are the new economic powerhouses and in terms of combined GDP (measured in terms of purchasing power parity (PPP)) are expected to overtake the Anglo-Saxon economies in the next couple of decades. Thus, it was natural for the three countries to talk business. Trade and economic interests figure high on the agenda of bilateral meetings amongst these countries. Apart from increasing the volume of trilateral trade, the forum also decided to consider specific initiatives in areas like civil aviation, bio-technology, IT, pharmaceuticals and financial services. India will host a trilateral business meeting this year with a view to concretize moves to bolster economic interdependence.

One topic requiring immediate economic cooperation is energy security. Russia is a major supplier of energy while China and India are major consumers. Assured supplies by Russia will enhance energy security in India and China, who in turn can pitch for joint bids in areas like Siberia to cut energy costs.

In conclusion, compelling political and strategic calculations and rational economic decisions call for deeper trilateral cooperation between these three countries.

Note: The views expressed herein are those of the author and do not represent those of the Government.