Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has decided to attend the upcoming ASEAN-related summit in Malaysia virtually rather than in person, officials confirmed on Friday. The three-day summit, scheduled from October 26 to 28 in Kuala Lumpur, will also feature key global leaders, including U.S. President Donald Trump.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) did not specify the reason for Modi’s change of plans, though Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim stated that Modi cited the ongoing Deepavali celebrations in India.
The MEA confirmed that External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar would represent India at the East Asia Summit on October 27, reaffirming ASEAN’s importance to India’s Act East Policy and Asia-Pacific vision.
However, the opposition Congress party linked Modi’s withdrawal to his reluctance to face Trump. Congress communication head Jairam Ramesh claimed the Prime Minister feared being “cornered” over issues such as India’s oil imports from Russia and Trump’s repeated claims about “stopping Operation Sindoor.”
Ramesh suggested Modi’s absence from the recent Gaza peace summit in Egypt was for similar reasons, adding that the Prime Minister found it “too risky” to appear alongside Trump.
Meanwhile, Modi shared a message on X, expressing warm wishes to Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and confirming his plan to join the ASEAN-India Summit virtually. Anwar responded by respecting Modi’s decision, offering Deepavali greetings to him and the Indian people.
The East Asia Summit is expected to bring together several high-profile leaders amid shifting global dynamics. Analysts say Modi’s virtual attendance may signal India’s cautious diplomatic approach as U.S.-India tensions simmer over trade tariffs and Russian oil imports, while Trump continues to pressure New Delhi for stronger alignment with Washington’s strategic objectives.
