No meeting with Trump as PM Modi to attend ASEAN summit online

In a post on X, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said he had received a phone call from Modi, informing him that he would attend the summit online “given the Deepavali festival”.

Confirming that he would not be travelling to Malaysia, Modi posted on X: “Had a warm conversation with my dear friend, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim of Malaysia. Congratulated him on Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship and conveyed best wishes for the success of upcoming Summits. Look forward to joining the ASEAN-India Summit virtually, and to further deepening of the ASEAN-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership”.

Sources said the Chhath Puja on October 28 was cited as the reason. Chhath Puja is especially significant this year as it is a key festival for Bihar, which goes to polls next month. Sources said domestic political demands require Modi’s presence in the country.

This precludes any possible meeting between Modi and US President Donald Trump, who were widely anticipated to meet on the sidelines of the summit (October 26-28) in Kuala Lumpur. The possible meeting was seen as key to a thaw in the bilateral ties between the two countries, where chill has set in over the imposition of 50 pc tariffs by the US on Indian goods.

Negotiations on an India-US trade agreement are still ongoing. There was a sense in the Indian government that a bilateral meeting between Modi and Trump would be best when the trade deal is at an advanced stage of negotiations and ready to be sealed.

In an official statement, the MEA said: “At the invitation of Anwar Ibrahim, Prime Minister of Malaysia, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will virtually attend the 22nd ASEAN (Association of South East Asian Nations)-India Summit on October 26, 2025. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the ASEAN leaders will jointly review the progress in ASEAN-India relations and discuss initiatives for strengthening comprehensive strategic partnership. Strengthening the relationship with ASEAN is a key pillar of our Act East Policy and our Indo-Pacific vision.”

“External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will represent Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi at the 20th East Asia Summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on October 27, 2025. The East Asia Summit will provide an opportunity to deliberate on the challenges to peace, stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region and also exchange views on regional and international developments,” it said.

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