Prime Minister Narendra Modi will not be traveling to Kuala Lumpur for the forthcoming ASEAN Summit due to pressing domestic responsibilities and an unresolved trade dispute with the United States. Insiders familiar with the situation revealed that the Prime Minister’s immediate attention is directed towards the upcoming Bihar state elections and the significant Chhath Puja festival. While the extent of his participation is yet to be officially clarified, Prime Minister Modi is anticipated to address the India-ASEAN Summit virtually on October 26. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar will be India’s representative at the East Asia Summit, taking place from October 27-28.
The highly anticipated meeting between Prime Minister Modi and US President Donald Trump at the summit has been cancelled, largely attributed to the lack of substantial progress in the bilateral trade agreement talks. Despite recent exchanges, including Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal’s visit to the US and a telephone conversation between the two leaders, a quick resolution to the trade issues appears unlikely. President Trump is expected to visit Malaysia on October 26 before proceeding to Japan.
Recent trade tensions between India and the US, stemming from reciprocal tariffs on Indian goods and duties on Russian oil, have created a challenging environment for bilateral commerce. These tariffs have impacted the viability of Indian exports. Although negotiations resumed in September and have involved direct communication between the leaders, a definitive agreement remains out of reach. Discrepancies were noted in the reporting of a recent phone call between President Trump and Prime Minister Modi; President Trump mentioned trade discussions, whereas Prime Minister Modi’s official statement focused on Diwali greetings and joint efforts against terrorism.