Modi skipping ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur raises eyebrows amid strained India-US ties
New Delhi: Indian 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.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the decision, announced by Modi after a phone conversation with his Malaysian counterpart Anwar Ibrahim, has sparked intense speculation in both diplomatic and political circles.
With Modi opting for a virtual presence, prospects of a possible bilateral meeting with US President Donald Trump on the sidelines now stand ruled out.
In his post, Anwar Ibrahim said Modi had informed him of his decision to attend the summit virtually due to the ongoing Diwali celebrations in India.
Political observers say domestic and diplomatic factors may also have played a role.
At the same time, New Delhi’s relations with Washington have faced turbulence after the Donald Trump administration’s recent steep tariff hikes on Indian goods.
Diplomats say the leadership may have preferred to avoid an awkward public encounter between the two leaders amid the ongoing trade friction.
