Will PM Modi Meet Trump At ASEAN Summit? MEA Responds

India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Friday commented on the possibility of a meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump during the upcoming ASEAN Summit in Malaysia later this month.

The summit is scheduled to take place from October 26 to 28 in Kuala Lumpur. Speaking at a press briefing, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal noted that the summit has not yet occurred and said that relevant information regarding any meeting between the two leaders will be shared at the appropriate time, hinting that a Modi-Trump encounter may take place.

If it does happen, it would mark the first meeting between PM Modi and President Trump since Washington imposed additional tariffs on Indian imports, which raised the total levies to 50%. The US cited India's purchase of Russian oil as the reason for the tariffs, triggering a dispute, as India has so far refused to relent.

Trump to Attend ASEAN Summit

Malaysia has informed India that President Trump will be in Kuala Lumpur from October 26 to 28 to attend both the ASEAN and East Asia summits. While no official announcement has been made regarding PM Modi's attendance, preparations are reportedly underway. Similarly, the US has not issued a formal statement regarding Trump's visit, neither from the White House nor the State Department.

India-US Trade Talks

The possibility of a Modi-Trump meeting is closely linked to the ongoing trade negotiations between India and the US, which aim to resolve disputes over tariffs. In September, on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar. Rubio described India as a "relationship of critical importance" for the US and highlighted trade, defence, energy, pharmaceuticals, and critical minerals as priority sectors.

Whether PM Modi and President Trump meet in Kuala Lumpur will depend on the progress of trade talks, with both sides facing a practical deadline of October 26 to finalise any deal before the summit.