Dhaka, Dec. 12 -- The US has explored setting up a new "Core 5" group including Russia, China, India and Japan, a move that could bring traditional adversaries closer and diverge from the G7.

The POLITICO reported that the idea surfaced in an unpublished extension of the National Security Strategy last week, although the White House has denied the existence of any such alternative document.

The US-based political news organisation said the proposed C5 would include the US, China, India, Japan and Russia -- a grouping that some observers in Washington believe aligns with President Donald Trump's unconventional approach to global power politics.

It added that the reported concept echoes Trump's preference for making deals with rival nati...