ASEAN Summit 2025: PM Modi unlikely to visit Malaysia next week—who will represent India then? Here's what we know

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to attend the ASEAN Summit 2025 virtually. However, he will not be physically present in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, for the summit starting on 26 October, due to scheduling issues, according to PTI, citing sources familiar with the matter on Wednesday. Meanwhile, External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar is likely to represent India at the event.

Although there is no official confirmation yet, sources indicated that India has conveyed to Malaysia that EAM S Jaishankar will attend the ASEAN Summit. Malaysia PM Anwar Ibrahim confirmed PM Modi will join the ASEAN-India summit virtually.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is concentrating on the forthcoming Bihar state assembly elections, and Modi is expected to participate in Chhath Puja celebrations next week, according to sources cited by Hindustan Times.

Sources added that discussions between India and the United States on a bilateral trade agreement have been ongoing, marked by Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal’s two-day visit to the US last week. This was followed by a phone conversation between PM Modi and US President Donald Trump on Tuesday. However, there have been few indications of any immediate progress, they said.

They added that the absence of a concrete outcome ahead of a possible meeting between the two leaders was among the factors influencing Modi’s travel plans.

Agrawal, who until recently served as the chief negotiator for the trade agreement with the United States, wrapped up two days of discussions with American officials in a cordial setting that paved the way for constructive and mutually beneficial bilateral trade negotiations between the two nations, according to HT's sources.

India–US relations suffered a setback when Trump imposed a 25% reciprocal tariff on Indian exports, along with an additional 25% punitive duty linked to India’s purchases of Russian oil.

PM Modi was expected to visit Cambodia in addition to Malaysia. However, since he will not be travelling to Malaysia, the proposed visit to Cambodia has also been postponed, PTI reported, citing sources.

About ASEAN Summit

The ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Summit will be held in Kuala Lumpur from 26 to 28 October this year.

In recent years, the prime minister has led the Indian delegations at both the ASEAN-India and East Asia summits.

Malaysia has extended invitations to Trump and leaders from several ASEAN dialogue partner countries. Trump is expected to visit Kuala Lumpur on 26 October for a two-day trip.

India’s dialogue relations with ASEAN began in 1992 with a sectoral partnership. In December 1995, it was upgraded to a full dialogue partnership and further elevated to the summit level in 2002. In 2012, it was transformed into a strategic partnership.

ASEAN’s ten member nations are Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Brunei, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar and Cambodia.

Anwar Ibrahim on PM Modi's attendance at ASEAN summit

Ibrahim said, "Last night, I received a phone call from a colleague of the Prime Minister of the Republic of India, Narendra Modi, to discuss efforts to strengthen Malaysia–India bilateral relations to a more strategic and comprehensive level. India remains an important partner for Malaysia in the fields of trade and investment, in addition to close cooperation in the sectors of technology, education, and regional security.”

“We also touched on the organization of the 47th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur at the end of this month. He informed me that he will attend virtually due to the ongoing Deepavali celebrations in India at that time,” Ibrahim added.