Modi Rules Out Meeting with Trump at Asean Summit Amid Ongoing Trade Friction

Strategic Insights -

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced that he will not be attending the Asean summit in Malaysia in person, effectively ruling out a meeting with US President Donald Trump on the sidelines. This decision comes as the two countries continue to have contrasting signals over key diplomatic issues, including a trade deal. Modi's announcement has sparked speculation about the state of relations between India and the US, particularly given the recent flurry of engagements between the two nations.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Asean summit, scheduled for October 26-28 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, was seen as an opportunity for Modi and Trump to meet for the third time in five-and-a-half months.
  • The Indian Prime Minister stated that he would participate virtually in the summit, citing ongoing Deepavali celebrations in India as the reason for his absence.
  • The decision to avoid a meeting with Trump was seen as a prudent move by policy wonks, given the US President's unpredictable behavior and tendency to make public statements that could embarrass world leaders.
  • Former foreign secretary Kanwal Sibal expressed concerns about the risks of meeting with Trump, stating that it was best to avoid such a meeting unless the trade deal was sealed beforehand.
  • The Asean summit also offers an opportunity for Trump to preside over a peace deal between Thailand and Cambodia, which he claims to have brokered.

Statistics:

  • October 26-28: Scheduled dates for the Asean summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
  • 5.5 months: The duration since Operation Sindoor, the last time Modi and Trump were scheduled to meet.
  • 11 years: The number of years Modi has attended the Asean summit.
  • 30: The number of countries, including India, that were invited to attend the Gaza Peace Summit in Sharm El-Sheikh, but announced by Egypt last week.
  • 2: The number of leaders – Modi and Trump – who provided contrasting versions of their phone conversation on Wednesday, which took place when the US President called Modi to offer Diwali greetings.

Sources:

  • Prime Minister Narendra Modi
  • Anwar Ibrahim, Malaysian Prime Minister (X post)
  • Donald Trump, US President (Diwali-related gathering in the Oval Office)
  • Kanwal Sibal, Former Foreign Secretary (X post)
  • ABP Private Limited