India PM Modi to attend Asean summit virtually, ruling out Trump meeting

NEW DELHI – India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi will participate virtually in the Asean summit in Kuala Lumpur, ruling out a possible meeting with US President Donald Trump and indicating New Delhi and Washington may not be close to sealing a trade deal.

The United States and India have been negotiating for months to thrash out a trade deal, but talks have been complicated by India’s Russian oil imports, which prompted Washington to impose a punitive 25 per cent tariff on Indian goods in August, raising total levies to 50 per cent.

“Look forward to joining the Asean–India Summit virtually, and to further deepening of the Asean–India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership,” Mr Modi said on X on Oct 23 while referring to a conversation with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

Datuk Seri Anwar also said he had been informed that Mr Modi would attend the gathering virtually “due to the ongoing Deepavali celebrations in India at that time”, referring to the Hindu festival of lights celebrated this week.

The meeting of the leaders of Asean will take place in Kuala Lumpur from Oct 26 to 28. It will be attended by all 10 members of the bloc and key trading partners such as China, Japan and the US

Malaysia’s foreign minister said last week that Mr Trump would visit Malaysia on Oct 26, fuelling speculation in India about a possible meeting with Mr Modi, who was previously expected to attend the summit in person.

There has been no official confirmation on the trip from Washington.

Mr Trump and Mr Modi

spoke on Oct 21

, both leaders said, with Mr Trump adding that their conversation focused largely on trade.

Mr Modi did not elaborate on the content of their conversation.

On Oct 22, India’s Mint media outlet reported the US and India were close to a deal that would cut tariffs on Indian imports to 15 to 16 per cent, though progress hinged on energy and agriculture. REUTERS