PM Modi to Skip Kuala Lumpur Visit, to Attend ASEAN Summit Virtually

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will not travel to Kuala Lumpur for the upcoming 47th ASEAN Summit, official sources confirmed on Wednesday. Instead, he will participate virtually in the key regional meeting scheduled from October 26 to 28, where leaders from Southeast Asia and partner nations will discuss economic, trade, and security cooperation. According to reports, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar will represent India in person at the summit. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim acknowledged the decision, stating that Mr. Modi cited the upcoming Deepavali festival as one of the reasons for his inability to travel. “I respect his decision,” Mr. Ibrahim said during a press briefing in Kuala Lumpur.
While New Delhi has not issued an official statement, diplomatic observers note that the Prime Minister’s absence may limit India’s scope for face-to-face engagements with regional counterparts, including potential meetings with U.S. President Donald Trump and ASEAN leaders. India’s participation in the ASEAN summit comes at a time when it is deepening economic cooperation with Southeast Asian nations through its “Act East” policy, and balancing strategic relations amid evolving geopolitical alignments in the Indo-Pacific. Despite the virtual format, officials emphasize that India’s commitment to ASEAN centrality and regional stability remains unchanged.