Overview
- India’s foreign ministry said Prime Minister Narendra Modi will join the 22nd ASEAN–India Summit by video on October 26, while External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar will attend the East Asia Summit in person on October 27.
- Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim confirmed Modi’s virtual participation, citing Deepavali, following a phone call between the two leaders.
- With Modi not traveling, officials report no in-person bilateral with U.S. President Donald Trump at the summit, though Trump is expected in Kuala Lumpur from October 26 to 28.
- India–U.S. trade negotiations resumed this month but remain without a deal after Washington’s tariff increases on Indian goods, including an additional 25% duty tied to Russian oil purchases.
- Indian reports also point to Bihar election commitments and festival events as scheduling factors, while New Delhi maintains high-level engagement at the meetings through Jaishankar.