Comment by Yiannis Papadimitriou

They say that in the early 1970s, Henry Kissinger had asked China China’s leader in Lai if, in his opinion, the French Revolution was successful and he replied: “It’s still too early to judge …”

In this light, it is too early to decide whether the co -operation of China, Russia and India really signifies cosmogenic changes at the Sangai Cooperation Organization (SCO), but also the first joint appearance of China, Russian and North Korean leaders in North Korean Japan).

But we can draw some conclusions. First and foremost: The anti-west “block” that sculpts Beijing and Moscow with a gesture-star Kim Jong Un is not as compact as it may seem at first glance. Symbolic Reminder: As Kim was preparing to get into the plan, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Monti made sure to leave, and shortly afterwards welcomed German Foreign Minister Johann Vandeful to discuss a free trade agreement with a free trade agreement.

Another India, another China

Already since it did not exceed neighboring China, India proudly brought the title of “greatest democracy on the planet”. Even a leader with nationalist backgrounds, such as Narendra Monty, does not disclaim these credit, which make him a privileged interlocutor in the area. Wanting to approach him, Europeans are determined to even ignore some unpleasant “details”, for example that India is still supplying oil from Russia, somehow co -funded Putin’s war fund.

In the past India and China fought for Tibet, clashed over Kashmir, disagreed with Taiwan, and showed that they have different interests and competitive relationships in the Indo-Pacific region. The Greek -Turkish competition of equipment is almost … peanuts in the face of the competition of the two Asian forces, with India increasing defense spending to $ 86.1 billion a year, surpassing Great Britain or Saudi Arabia.

Does a “Soviet” doctrine come back?

Of course, the “paternity” of the idea for Russia, China and India (RIC) strategic coincidence is attributed to former Russian Prime Minister Jovgeni Primakov. But also Russia’s relations- or earlier in the Soviet Union- with China are traditionally competitive. Both countries have a “superpower perception”. For Russia this is now clear. China is becoming increasingly perceived on the issue of Taiwan and other claims of sovereignty in the South China Sea, but also with the unprecedented equipment of recent years (+50% from 2014 until today). The Chinese elites consider themselves to be the center of the world for millennia and its marginalization in the 19th and 20th centuries was merely a “accident” of history.

The cohesive bond in the alleged coincidence of China, Russia and India is none other than the rivalry towards the West and mainly to the US. But that alone is not enough for a “strategic coincidence”. After all, this rivalry also presents gradations, and is not as given for all three partners. But it is certainly increased with Donald Trump at the White House and his policy of “America First”.