Prime Minister Narendra Modi will not attend the upcoming ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur due to pressing domestic commitments and a lack of progress on a significant trade agreement with the United States. Sources close to the matter indicate that the Prime Minister’s focus is currently on internal affairs, including the crucial Bihar state assembly elections. The festive season, particularly the Chhath Puja celebrations, also requires his presence. While an official statement is pending, it’s understood that PM Modi will participate virtually in the India-ASEAN Summit on October 26. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar will represent India at the East Asia Summit from October 27-28. The anticipated high-level meeting between Prime Minister Modi and US President Donald Trump at the summit has been called off, largely due to the stalled trade negotiations. Despite recent diplomatic efforts, including a visit by Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal to the US and a phone call between the leaders, no concrete breakthrough in the bilateral trade agreement has been achieved. President Trump is scheduled to visit Malaysia on October 26 prior to his trip to Japan.
