Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been confirmed as unlikely to attend the ASEAN Summit in Malaysia next week. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will instead represent India at the summit, scheduled from October 26-28 in Kuala Lumpur. This decision stems from scheduling conflicts, according to sources familiar with the matter.
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announced that Prime Minister Modi will deliver his remarks virtually during the summit. He conveyed this following a phone conversation where PM Modi cited the Diwali festival as the reason for his virtual participation. The call between the leaders also addressed the enhancement of bilateral relations between India and Malaysia, focusing on key areas of cooperation such as trade, investment, technology, and security.
The absence of Prime Minister Modi from the in-person summit also rules out any meeting with US President Donald Trump, who is slated to attend the event. Prime Minister Modi’s diplomatic calendar for the upcoming months is focused on the G20 Summit in South Africa in November. The timing for the QUAD Summit, to be hosted by India, remains unconfirmed.
Prime Minister Modi has personally led Indian delegations to ASEAN and East Asia summits in previous years. Malaysia has invited a distinguished list of international leaders, including President Trump, for the summit.
India’s relationship with ASEAN has grown significantly since its inception in 1992, marked by a strategic partnership established in 2012. India and the ten ASEAN member states have bolstered cooperation across economic and security domains. A planned visit to Cambodia, initially considered alongside the Malaysia trip, has been postponed.