Kumar Bahukhandi
In this picture on October 10, 2024, Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaks during the India-ASEAN Summit, in Laos. | Photo Credit: PTI
The MEA has not provided any reason for the cancellation and it is understood that the delegation in the ASEAN summit will be led by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will not attend the ASEAN summit in Malaysia this weekend, official sources said on Thursday (October 23, 2025). Prime Minister Modi also announced in a social media post that he will participate in the ASEAN-India summit “virtually”.
The Ministry of External Affairs has not provided any reason for the cancellation and it is understood that the Indian delegation in the ASEAN summit will be led by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar.
“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,” said Mr. Modi in a statement.
The event in Kuala Lumpur will draw a host of dignitaries including U.S. President Donald Trump and it was expected that the venue would have provided a meeting opportunity for Mr. Modi and Mr. Trump especially as India-U.S. relation remains uneasy after Mr. Trump imposed punitive tariff on India because of purchase of Russian crude oil.
President Trump and Prime Minister Modi exchanged greetings on Deepavali on Tuesday October 21, 2025 as India-U.S. negotiation for a trade pact continues. The two sides however gave differing takes of the conversation with President Trump telling a group of prominent Indian-Americans and Indian Embassy officials in the White House that the telephone call focused on trade deal, Russian oil and “no war with Pakistan” and the Indian sources maintaining that Pakistan was not discussed during the call.
Officials had earlier given mixed signals about Prime Minister Modi’s presence in Kuala Lumpur saying that the Bihar election campaign requires the PM’s attention.
Earlier, President Trump had invited PM Modi at the Sharm-el-Sheikh peace summit for ceasefire in Gaza Strip but India was represented at the event by Kirti Vardhan Singh, Minister of State for External Affairs. Since the imposition of punitive 50% tariff on India, Prime Minister Modi and President Trump have spoken on multiple occasions and . Modi has tweeted appreciating Trump for mediating on Israel-Palestinian conflict, but they have not met despite meeting possibilities. The possibility of conversation has also become difficult as Donald Trump continues to insist that he mediated an end to the May 2025 conflict between India and Pakistan.
(Source-PTI)
