By Manisha Sahu, America News World
October 2, 2025
Malaysia has informed India that U.S. President Donald Trump will travel to Kuala Lumpur later this month to attend the annual ASEAN and East Asia summits, opening the possibility of a high-stakes bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The summits, scheduled from October 26 to 28, are expected to draw several global leaders, including Chinese Premier Li Qiang and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
While neither Washington nor New Delhi has officially confirmed Modi and Trump’s participation, officials in Kuala Lumpur have conveyed to both sides that preparations are being made for their attendance. Sources in Delhi suggest that India is actively considering the Prime Minister’s visit, with discussions underway on whether to use the ASEAN platform for a much-anticipated one-on-one engagement between the two leaders.
The Kuala Lumpur Window
The confirmation of Trump’s trip has created a diplomatic “window of opportunity” for India. A possible Modi-Trump meeting has been in discussion for weeks, coinciding with renewed momentum on a long-stalled trade deal between the two countries. The deal had earlier hit a roadblock over tariff disputes and U.S. criticism of India’s purchase of discounted Russian oil.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio met India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar in New York during last month’s United Nations General Assembly. Following that meeting, Rubio underscored the “critical importance” of the India-U.S. relationship and highlighted “trade, defense, energy, pharmaceuticals, and critical minerals” as priority areas of cooperation.
Diplomatic officials say that if Modi and Trump do meet in Kuala Lumpur, it could provide the political push needed to finalize at least a framework of the trade agreement. However, the talks are running against a tight deadline: the deal would need to be substantially advanced by October 26, the day the ASEAN summit begins.
Parallel Global Currents
The East Asia Summit in Kuala Lumpur is expected to draw unusually high attention this year, given the global political churn. Malaysia, led by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, will host not only the U.S. and Indian leaders but also Chinese Premier Li Qiang and Russian President Vladimir Putin. The presence of these leaders in the same venue offers a rare stage for competing powers to test strategies amid conflicts in West Asia and Europe.
India views the summit as an opportunity to strengthen its outreach in Southeast Asia, a region where China has steadily expanded influence through infrastructure investments, trade agreements, and defense partnerships. For Washington, Trump’s attendance will signal continued U.S. engagement with ASEAN, a bloc seen as central to Indo-Pacific geopolitics.
Gaza Plan and Modi’s Swift Endorsement
The diplomatic backdrop of a potential Modi-Trump bilateral has been shaped in part by developments in West Asia. On September 30, just hours after Trump unveiled a 20-point peace plan for Gaza, Prime Minister Modi welcomed the proposal in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
“We welcome President Donald J Trump’s announcement of a comprehensive plan to end the Gaza conflict. It provides a viable pathway to long term and sustainable peace, security and development for the Palestinian and Israeli people, as also for the larger West Asian region. We hope that all concerned will come together behind President Trump’s initiative and support this effort to end conflict and secure peace,” Modi wrote.
Observers in Delhi view Modi’s quick and positive response as a diplomatic signal — not just of India’s endorsement of Washington’s initiative, but also of New Delhi’s intent to remain aligned with U.S. positions even while managing its partnerships with Iran and Russia.
A Reset After Bilateral Chill
If Modi and Trump do meet in Kuala Lumpur, it would mark an important reset in the relationship. Ties had cooled after Trump doubled tariffs on Indian exports to 50 percent, triggering a sharp response from New Delhi. Trade talks resumed only last month, when an American delegation visited Delhi for discussions described by both sides as “positive.”
Trump also personally reached out to Modi on September 16, calling him on the eve of his 75th birthday. Both leaders used the occasion to underline their commitment to the India-U.S. partnership, with Modi saying he was “fully committed to taking the relationship to new heights.” They also exchanged views on the Russia-Ukraine conflict, signaling convergence on some international issues despite underlying differences.
Whether a Modi-Trump bilateral materializes in Kuala Lumpur now hinges on progress in the ongoing trade talks. Diplomatic sources suggest both sides want to avoid another stalemate that could overshadow the optics of the ASEAN summit. A successful meeting could serve multiple objectives: strengthening economic ties, advancing defense cooperation, and positioning both countries as anchors of stability in an increasingly turbulent global order.
As India calibrates its strategy, it also faces the challenge of balancing relations with multiple powers expected at the summit. Putin’s attendance and China’s assertive presence underscore the geopolitical complexity of the Kuala Lumpur gathering. For Modi, a bilateral with Trump could reinforce India’s strategic alignment with the U.S. without undercutting its independent approach to global diplomacy.
For Washington, the summit provides President Trump an opportunity to showcase leadership on both trade and peace in Asia. His Gaza plan has already put him back at the center of West Asian diplomacy. A successful engagement with Modi in Kuala Lumpur would further bolster his case that U.S. partnerships remain vital and forward-looking.
As the countdown to October 26 begins, all eyes will be on the trade negotiators in Washington and Delhi. Their success in closing gaps could pave the way for a pivotal Modi-Trump encounter that might shape not just bilateral ties but also the broader Indo-Pacific landscape.
— America News World