New Delhi [India], August 20 (ANI): Roman Babushkin, the Charge d’Affaires at the Russian Embassy in Delhi, on Wednesday expressed optimism about the resumption of the India-Russia-China trilateral format, calling it a vital step toward regional stability.
Speaking at a press briefing in the national capital, Babushkin emphasized the strategic significance of the dialogue and voiced hope for its revival amid global challenges, particularly economic complexities arising from US tariff measures.
“As far as the trilateral is concerned, we are quite hopeful that this format will be resumed sooner rather than later because its importance is not questioned. But we should wait until the right time comes. We would welcome these developments because they proved their efficiency when we had regular interaction at the ministerial level and even at the leaders’ level,” he said.
He added, “It is all about the regional stability of the region, which is mostly dependent on how the relations between the three countries—the largest in the region, Russia, India, and China—are developing.”
Babushkin was referring to the RIC framework, initiated in the late 1990s among the three nations.
He also highlighted the upcoming diplomatic engagements at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, scheduled to take place from August 31 to September 1 in Tianjin, China. “We are all preparing to attend the SCO summit at the highest political level. Recently, in the engagements with the Chinese Foreign Minister, the Indian side confirmed the Prime Minister’s participation. There are also reports that the EU is preparing for a bilateral meeting between Prime Minister Modi and President Putin,” he noted.
Commenting on the recent Russia-US summit in Alaska on August 15, Babushkin described it as a “breakthrough development” in global diplomacy and dismissed attempts to frame it solely around the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
“There are so many rumors and speculations about this summit in Alaska, which took place on the 15th of August. In fact, it was a breakthrough development, because you would see the leaders of the leading global powers sitting together and having a very warm, deep and very prolonged conversation. The agenda was a diversified one. We are absolutely not about to link it to just one particular question. We talk about the restoration of relations between Russia and the US. And for that, rebuilding trust is one of the most significant tasks,” he stated.
Babushkin also noted reports suggesting that the US may reconsider imposing an additional 25 percent tariff on India for its purchase of Russian oil, though he clarified that such reports remain unconfirmed.
“And as far as we heard here in the mission after this meeting, which was, according to assessments by President Trump, very successful and very positive, I think I heard that he decided not to impose an extra 25 percent on India, according to media reports. I didn’t see other reports,” he said. (ANI)
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