By Manisha Sahu, America News World
October 23, 2025
In a significant development ahead of the upcoming Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) leaders’ summit, Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India, has confirmed that he will not travel to Malaysia to attend the summit in person. Instead, he will join the event virtually.
His decision was revealed by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who said he received a phone call from PM Modi informing him of the change in attendance.
Why the change of plan?
According to Anwar Ibrahim, Prime Minister Modi cited the upcoming Hindu festival of Diwali (Deepavali) as the key reason for not attending in person. The summit dates overlap with the festival celebrations, leading the Indian side to opt for a virtual presence.
Some Indian news outlets also point out that the timing coincides with the Chhath Puja on 28 October, which holds special political significance in the Indian state of Bihar. With elections scheduled in the state on 6 November (phase-1) and 11 November (phase-2), the decision underlines the domestic priority.
The summit and diplomatic backdrop
The 47th ASEAN Summit is scheduled to be held in Kuala Lumpur from 26-28 October 2025.
India is a key strategic partner to ASEAN and has increasingly engaged with the bloc under its “Act East” and “Neighbourhood First” policies.
Given that high-level summits often provide opportunities for bilateral meetings, Prime Minister Modi’s absence in person also has wider diplomatic implications. One major speculation had been that he might meet Donald Trump, the President of the United States, on the sidelines of the summit. That possibility now appears to be off the table.
What it means: Regional, bilateral and domestic vantage points
Regional significance:
For ASEAN, the participation of key partners like India underscores its ambition to enhance strategic partnerships. The summit agenda is expected to touch on a gamut of regional issues—from trade and investment to maritime security and supply-chain resilience.
India-ASEAN ties:
India’s decision to attend virtually does not in itself diminish its commitment to ASEAN; however, the absence of face-to-face engagements may reduce some of the connective momentum that in-person attendance brings. Given India’s continuing efforts to deepen ties with Southeast Asia, presence at such summits serves both symbolic and substantive value.
Bilateral diplomacy and US-India relations:
The possibility of a Modi-Trump meeting had been generating interest, particularly in the context of ongoing trade negotiations between India and the United States. With Modi attending virtually, such a meeting seems unlikely during the summit, potentially delaying or reshaping bilateral engagements in the short-term.
Domestic politics:
The timing of Modi’s decision reflects how domestic considerations intersect with foreign-policy choices. With Bihar heading to polls and Chhath Puja around the same time as the summit, the decision underlines the importance of electoral politics and symbolic festivals in an Indian context. Some analysts suggest this signals that the government is prioritising domestic optics over diplomatic optics in this instance.
What to watch going forward
How India’s virtual participation is handled: Will Modi deliver a live address, or will the delegation led by India’s Foreign Minister step up on the ground? Official channels are yet to fully flesh out how India’s engagement will be structured.
Whether bilateral meetings that might have taken place on the sidelines shift to other forums, or are delayed altogether.
How ASEAN member states and regional partners interpret the decision: whether it is taken as a short-term practical adjustment, or as a signal about India’s engagement priorities.
Any announcement of future in-person meetings soon after the summit, perhaps in another context, to compensate for the missed opportunity in Kuala Lumpur.
The content and outcomes of the summit itself, especially regarding trade, investment and regional security, and how India leverages them despite virtual attendance.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s decision to participate in the 47th ASEAN Summit virtually marks a strategic calculation balancing external diplomacy with internal priorities. While the move ensures India’s engagement remains intact, albeit in virtual form, it also foregoes certain opportunities for direct person-to-person diplomacy—particularly any sideline meeting with the US President. The timing of festivals and state elections add layers of domestic logic. As the summit draws near, India’s delegation and partners will need to ensure that the virtual participation translates into meaningful engagement—so that the country’s broader Act East ambitions and bilateral goals remain on track.
For our readers at America News World, this development underscores a broader trend: global leaders often find themselves navigating complex overlaps of international engagements and domestic imperatives. In the coming days, the outcomes of the ASEAN summit and any subsequent follow-ups from India will bear close watching.