New Delhi : Prime Minister Narendra Modi will likely skip the ASEAN Summit 2025 in Malaysia, scheduled from October 26 to 28, due to scheduling conflicts, sources said. External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar will represent India at the high-profile summit, keeping India actively engaged with ASEAN nations.
The ASEAN Summit 2025 Malaysia, hosted in Kuala Lumpur, will gather world leaders, including US President Donald Trump, Chinese Premier Li Qiang, and ASEAN heads of state, to discuss regional security, trade, and Indo-Pacific cooperation. India has informed Malaysia that Jaishankar will attend, while PM Modi may join virtually for select ASEAN-India discussions.
India has strengthened its relationship with ASEAN over the years. The partnership began as a sectoral dialogue in 1992, became a full dialogue in 1995, reached summit-level in 2002, and evolved into a strategic partnership in 2012. India now collaborates with ASEAN in trade, investment, defence, maritime security, and digital connectivity. The 10-member ASEAN bloc Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines, Brunei, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar, and Cambodia remains a key partner in India’s Act East Policy and Indo-Pacific strategy.
Since 2014, PM Modi has attended almost every ASEAN and East Asia Summit, except the 17th EAS in Cambodia (2022), showcasing India’s consistent diplomatic engagement. The ASEAN Summit 2025 Malaysia will focus on trade, security, supply chains, and maritime cooperation, with Malaysia aiming to strengthen ASEAN unity and its leadership role in the Indo-Pacific.
Although PM Modi may miss the summit, India’s engagement through EAM Jaishankar ensures continuity in dialogue and strategy. The summit allows India to reinforce strategic and economic ties with ASEAN nations, shaping regional security and growth in the evolving Indo-Pacific landscape.
–IANS
