No Trump meeting as PM to attend ASEAN summit online, Pg1.

Key Highlights:

• PM Modi will virtually attend the 22nd ASEAN-India Summit on October 26, 2025, hosted by Malaysia.
• External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will represent India at the 20th East Asia Summit in Kuala Lumpur on October 27, 2025.
• The reason cited for the PM's virtual attendance is Chhath Puja on October 28, a significant festival in Bihar, which is holding elections next month.
• A potential meeting between PM Modi and US President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the summit is now unlikely.

Detailed Insights:

• India aims to strengthen its relationship with ASEAN as a key aspect of its Act East Policy and Indo-Pacific vision.
• The East Asia Summit will address challenges to peace, stability, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region.
• A meeting between Modi and Trump was anticipated to address the 50% tariffs imposed by the US on Indian goods.
• Ongoing negotiations for an India-US trade agreement are expected to progress further before a high-level bilateral meeting occurs.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Act East Policy: India's initiative to promote economic, strategic and cultural relations with the Asia-Pacific region.
• Indo-Pacific Vision: A geopolitical concept emphasizing free and open maritime routes and regional cooperation in the Indo-Pacific area.
• ASEAN: A regional intergovernmental organization comprising ten Southeast Asian countries that promotes cooperation.