Prime Minister Narendra Modi will likely not travel to Malaysia to attend the meetings related to the ASEAN Summit, which begins on Sunday, due to his pre-scheduled engagements. Officials stated that External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar will represent India at these meetings in the Prime Minister's absence.
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will not participate in the ASEAN Summit 2025, which is scheduled to take place in Malaysia this year. The Indian government has confirmed that External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar will represent India at this summit. The conference is being held from October 26 to 28 in Malaysia's capital, Kuala Lumpur. However, the possibility remains that Prime Minister Modi might address the meeting virtually.
Visit Postponed Due to Pre-scheduled Engagements
According to sources, Prime Minister Modi's visit to Malaysia has been postponed this time due to several pre-scheduled engagements and domestic commitments. Officials stated that the Malaysian government has been formally informed of this decision. It is also being said that a visit by the Prime Minister to Cambodia was initially being considered, but that too has now been postponed.
India has clarified that External Affairs Minister Jaishankar will represent India at the ASEAN-India Summit and the East Asia Summit in Malaysia, thereby maintaining India's level of participation and diplomatic presence.
Possibility of PM Modi's Digital Participation
Although Modi will not physically attend the conference, it is highly probable that he will address it via video conferencing or a virtual platform. According to Ministry of External Affairs sources, the Prime Minister's message will underscore India's commitment and regional cooperation among ASEAN nations. India has played an active role in the ASEAN-India Summit over the past several years. Prime Minister Modi has led India in almost every ASEAN meeting, and under his leadership, India has given a new direction to its relations with Southeast Asia under the ‘Act East Policy’.
Trump to Attend, Global Attention to Rise
This year's ASEAN Summit is considered important from several perspectives. Malaysia has invited leaders from several key dialogue partner countries, including US President Donald Trump. Trump will arrive in Kuala Lumpur on a two-day visit on October 26. This is expected to lead to high-level discussions on issues related to security, trade, and strategic partnerships in the Indo-Pacific region.
Jaishankar's presence on behalf of India indicates that India will assert its diplomatic and economic interests bly on this platform. Key issues on Jaishankar's agenda will include regional security, mutual trade, maritime cooperation, and digital connectivity. Relations between India and ASEAN began in 1992 as a sectoral partnership. In December 1995, it was elevated to a full dialogue partnership, in 2002 it was upgraded to a summit-level partnership, and in 2012 it was recognized as a strategic partnership.
Currently, ASEAN has 10 member states — Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Brunei, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar, and Cambodia. India's annual trade with these countries exceeds 120 billion dollars, and ASEAN's role in the ‘Indo-Pacific Vision’ is considered central.
