New Delhi, Oct 23: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will not travel to Kuala Lumpur for the 47th ASEAN Summit later this week and will instead join the proceedings virtually, a move that has stirred speculation in both political and diplomatic circles.
Though the Ministry of External Affairs has not issued an official explanation, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said Modi cited ongoing Diwali celebrations as the reason for participating online. “He informed me that he will attend it virtually due to the ongoing Deepavali celebrations in India at that time. I respect his decision and extend my Deepavali greetings to him and all the people of India,” Anwar posted on X.
However, political analysts suggest that domestic political compulsions — particularly the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections — may also have influenced the decision. With the state heading to polls soon, Modi is expected to dedicate significant time to campaigning in what remains a politically crucial region for the BJP.
Diplomatic observers add that Modi’s move could also be linked to the expected presence of US President Donald Trump at the summit. Relations between New Delhi and Washington have faced turbulence in recent months following steep US tariffs on Indian exports, and sources suggest the Indian side may have preferred to avoid a direct encounter amid ongoing trade tensions.
Despite the Prime Minister’s absence, India will be represented at the ASEAN Summit by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, who will travel to Kuala Lumpur to attend the meetings in person. Modi is expected to deliver his address during the ASEAN-India segment virtually.
The 47th ASEAN Summit, scheduled for October 26–27, will see participation from leaders across Southeast Asia and key dialogue partners including the US, China, Japan and Australia. The agenda is expected to focus on regional security, trade and evolving strategic alignments in the Indo-Pacific.
Officials noted that Modi’s next major diplomatic engagement will be his planned meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin later this year — a crucial interaction as India continues to balance ties among global powers in a shifting geopolitical landscape.
