Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be attending the ASEAN-India Summit virtually, a shift from his initial plan to participate in person in Kuala Lumpur. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will represent India at several crucial meetings associated with the summit.
The announcement was made by both Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and Prime Minister Modi via social media. Modi, who was expected to travel to Malaysia on October 25, conveyed his best wishes for the success of the summit and expressed his eagerness to deepen the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between ASEAN and India through virtual participation.
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim mentioned that Modi cited the ongoing Deepavali festival celebrations as a reason for his virtual attendance, a decision which Ibrahim respected. Malaysia reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening ties with India and enhancing cooperation within ASEAN for regional peace and prosperity.
While official statements from the Indian government did not specify reasons for the Prime Minister’s change of plans, sources familiar with the matter indicated that the upcoming Bihar assembly elections and the lack of immediate tangible outcomes from trade talks with the US were contributing factors.
The report also touches upon ongoing diplomatic discussions, including the US President’s planned travel to Malaysia and potential meetings. It highlights the complexities surrounding India’s energy imports from Russia and the upcoming India-Russia annual summit, noting that while India’s oil purchases from Russia are reportedly decreasing, a complete halt is unlikely.