Prime Minister Narendra Modi will not travel to Kuala Lumpur for the ASEAN summit later this week and will participate virtually, putting an end to speculation about a possible meeting with US President Donald Trump. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar is expected to represent India at the summit, which runs from October 26 to 28, PTI reported.
Last month, Trump had expressed on Truth Social that he looked forward to meeting Modi in the “coming weeks,” fuelling hopes of a bilateral discussion during the summit. However, Modi’s decision to attend virtually was announced in an X post on Thursday, noting a warm conversation with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and highlighting India’s commitment to the ASEAN-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
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PM Modi has traditionally attended the ASEAN summit in person, participating every year from 2014 to 2019, except during Covid-19 disruptions and in 2022. His decision this year has drawn attention amid strained India-US ties over tariffs on Indian imports of Russian oil and stalled trade negotiations.
Congress leaders criticized Modi, suggesting the decision may be motivated by a desire to avoid being “cornered” by Trump on contentious issues. Despite these tensions, Modi and Trump have maintained phone contact, with the latest call taking place on Diwali. With Modi attending virtually, the opportunity for an in-person meeting with Trump this year appears unlikely.
