The importance of Russia and China will grow after the Iran war, Talmiz Ahmad told RT Indias In Conversation with Salman Khurshid

The West is crumbling into barbarism, signaling the end of the old order, former envoy Talmiz Ahmad told RT India's In Conversation with Salman Khurshid.

The US has lost credibility and the Western alliance is in disarray, Ahmad, the former Indian ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Oman, and the UAE, said.

He added that China and Russia will be seen as playing a larger political and diplomatic role in global affairs after the Iran war is over, noting that Russia and China are "strong supporters" of Iran.

As India receives 70-80% of its oil from the Gulf region, the disruption in shipping is a concern for the country, which should be more actively involved in Middle East affairs. "We do not have the luxury of sitting at home in fortress India. We have to be engaged with this region crucially. We cannot afford a regional conflagration," Ahmad explained.

He also suggested that the Russia-India-China (RIC) troika should be at the heart of Indian diplomacy and foreign policy. A trilateral entity in which Moscow is close to both Beijing and New Delhi ensures balance in ties, he said, and if there are issues that agitate India and China, Russia's presence will have a positive impact.

"Both BRICS and the SCO should [receive India's] undivided attention. The Quad is now history, and sorry to say, even the G20 is... history," Ahmad said, adding that "RIC is at the heart of BRICS."

Watch the full episode of In Conversation with Salman Khurshid below.

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(RT.com)