Modi to Join ASEAN Summit Online, Skips Meeting with Trump
India’s prime minister, Narendra Modi, will participate in the upcoming ASEAN leaders’ summit remotely rather than travelling to Kuala Lumpur, officials said on Thursday, a move that all but rules out a planned in-person meeting with former U.S. president Donald Trump. Reuters
Malaysian and Indian officials confirmed Modi informed Malaysia’s prime minister, Anwar Ibrahim, of his decision in a phone call. Malaysian statements said Modi cited the timing of Deepavali celebrations in India as a reason for joining the summit virtually. The 47th ASEAN Summit is scheduled to run from October 26 to 28 and will bring together leaders from the bloc’s 10 member states along with partner countries. mint+1
Diplomats and analysts say Modi’s choice underscores the delicate state of negotiations between New Delhi and Washington. Talks on a trade package have been complicated by disagreements over India’s purchases of Russian crude and recent U.S. tariff actions that have increased costs for some Indian exports. Those differences made a high-profile bilateral meeting less likely even before Modi’s announcement. Reuters
New Delhi will still be represented in Kuala Lumpur at ministerial and deputy-level meetings, and India’s participation in summit sessions will remain substantive despite Modi’s physical absence. Officials stress that virtual attendance will not diminish the country’s strategic engagement with Southeast Asia under its Act East policy. mint
Reactions at home were quick: opposition parties seized on the development to question diplomatic priorities, while government sources framed Modi’s remote participation as a practical choice that balances domestic commitments and international engagement. Observers note that virtual attendance has become an accepted diplomatic tool when schedules or national events constrain leaders’ travel.
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