Prime Minister Narendra Modi will not be travelling to Malaysia for the upcoming ASEAN (Association of South East Asian Nations) leaders’ summit and will instead participate virtually, officials confirmed on Thursday.
The decision was revealed by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who said he received a phone call from Modi informing him of the change in plans. According to Ibrahim, the Indian Prime Minister expressed his inability to attend the summit in person due to the festive season in India.
Sources said that while Diwali celebrations were cited, the timing also coincides with the Chhath festival on October 28 — an important cultural observance in Bihar — where state elections are set to begin on November 6, followed by a second phase on November 11. Given the political importance of Bihar, Modi is expected to remain in the country to oversee domestic engagements during the election period.
This development effectively rules out a widely anticipated meeting between Prime Minister Modi and US President Donald Trump, who is scheduled to attend the ASEAN summit in Kuala Lumpur. The two leaders were expected to hold talks on the sidelines, potentially advancing discussions on trade and strategic cooperation.
However, government sources indicated that with ongoing negotiations over a bilateral trade agreement between India and the US, both sides felt that a high-level meeting would be more productive once the deal is finalized.
The Prime Minister is expected to address the ASEAN summit virtually, reaffirming India’s commitment to regional cooperation and Indo-Pacific stability while balancing domestic priorities during the festive and election season.
