Prime Minister Narendra Modi has opted out of attending the upcoming ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur, prioritizing domestic political engagements and the ongoing trade dialogue with the United States. Sources close to the matter revealed that the Prime Minister’s decision is largely influenced by the critical Bihar state assembly elections and his planned participation in the Chhath Puja festival. Although a formal announcement is awaited, Prime Minister Modi is expected to join the India-ASEAN Summit proceedings virtually on October 26. The East Asia Summit, scheduled for October 27-28, will see External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar representing India.
The prospect of a bilateral meeting between Prime Minister Modi and US President Donald Trump at the summit has been shelved, primarily due to the lack of significant progress in the India-US trade talks. Despite continued engagement, including a recent visit by Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal to the US and a phone conversation between the leaders, a breakthrough in the trade agreement negotiations has not materialized. President Trump’s itinerary includes a visit to Malaysia on October 26 before he travels to Japan.
Trade friction between India and the US has escalated following the imposition of tariffs on Indian products and duties on Russian oil imports by the US. These trade barriers have adversely affected the marketability of Indian goods in the US. While diplomatic efforts have been re-initiated, with engagements between trade representatives and high-level phone calls, a resolution is still elusive. A recent phone call between President Trump and Prime Minister Modi generated differing accounts, with President Trump highlighting trade discussions and Prime Minister Modi’s office emphasizing Diwali greetings and shared stances against terrorism.