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Anwar bin Ibrahim

India's Prime Minister Modi to Skip Asean Summit in Kuala Lumpur

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi will virtually attend the Asean-India Summit, skipping the regional gathering in Kuala Lumpur. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will represent the country at several key meetings, and the decision is attributed to scheduling issues and the upcoming Bihar assembly election. This move comes as the US President Donald Trump is set to visit Malaysia on October 26, with a potential meeting between Trump and Modi being seen as a possibility. The Indian government has not provided reasons for Modi's decision to skip the Asean Summit, which he last did in 2022.

Key Takeaways:

  • Prime Minister Narendra Modi will join the Asean-India Summit virtually due to scheduling and other issues, with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar representing the country at several key meetings.
  • Modi's decision to skip the Asean Summit is attributed to the upcoming Bihar assembly election and lack of immediate outcomes in trade talks with the US.
  • External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will represent the Prime Minister at the East Asia Summit on October 27.
  • The Asean Summit is a key platform for strengthening ties with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in line with India's "Act East" policy and Indo-Pacific vision.
  • The East Asia Summit will provide an opportunity to deliberate on challenges to peace, stability, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region and exchange views on regional and international developments.
  • India's trade talks with the US have been ongoing, but there have been few signs of any immediate or tangible outcome.
  • US President Donald Trump claimed that India's purchases of Russian oil will fall to "almost nothing" by the end of the year.

Statistics:

  • 40% of India's oil purchases come from Russia (according to US President Donald Trump)
  • Trump stated that India's purchases will fall to "almost nothing" by the end of the year
  • Modi last skipped the Asean Summit in 2022
  • India's "Act East" policy aims to strengthen ties with ASEAN in line with the Indo-Pacific vision
  • The East Asia Summit will be held on October 27

Sources:

  • Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim
  • Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (social media)
  • External Affairs Ministry of India
  • Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from HT Patna

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