PM Ibrahim wrote – Today I received a call from PM Modi. We discussed further strengthening India-Malaysia relations. We also talked about the ASEAN Summit. Modi informed me that he will participate in the summit online.

This time, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar will represent PM Modi at the summit.

The Congress on Thursday claimed that Prime Minister Modi’s decision not to visit Malaysia was because of Donald Trump. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh wrote on social media that Modi does not want to be cornered by Trump.

Ramesh says praising on social media is different from meeting in person

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh wrote that there had been speculation for days about whether Prime Minister Modi would attend the Kuala Lumpur summit. It now appears almost certain that he will not go. According to Ramesh, this means Modi has lost several chances to hug world leaders, take photos, and present himself as a ‘Vishwaguru’.

Ramesh claimed that Modi’s real reason for skipping the event is to avoid facing President Trump, who will also be there. He said Modi had similarly declined an invitation to the Gaza Peace Summit in Egypt a few weeks ago for the same reason.

He added that praising Trump on social media is one thing, but meeting face to face with someone who has claimed 53 times to have stopped “Operation Sindoor” and said five times that India promised to stop buying oil from Russia is another matter. “It’s quite risky for him,” Ramesh wrote, adding, “Perhaps the Prime Minister now remembers the old Bollywood song: Bach ke rehna re baba, bach ke rehna (Be careful, dear, be careful).”

For the first time, Modi will not attend the ASEAN summit

Modi has attended the ASEAN Summit 12 times so far. For two years, in 2020 and 2021, the ASEAN Summit was held virtually. Modi participated online then.

The ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) summit will be held in Kuala Lumpur from October 26 to 28. No official statement has been issued on the level of India's participation in the summit-related deliberations.

Trump will visit Malaysia on October 26

Malaysia has invited US President Donald Trump, as well as leaders from several ASEAN partner countries, to Kuala Lumpur on a two-day visit on October 26.

ASEAN is a group of 10 countries

ASEAN was established in Bangkok in 1967. It is a regional organization of Southeast Asian nations. Its full name is the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). It has 10 member countries: Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Myanmar, Cambodia, Brunei, and Laos.

India signed a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) with ASEAN countries in 2022. This agreement seeks to advance cooperation in defense, economic, and technological interests. India is also strengthening its ties with ASEAN countries to counter China's influence in the region.

ASEAN was formed amid US-Russia rivalry

After the end of World War II in 1945, the countries of Southeast Asia gained independence from Japanese and Western occupation. While their war with Japan was over, they continued to fight among themselves over ideological and border disputes. This period also coincided with the Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union.

Niranjan Oak, an expert on ASEAN affairs at the Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies, explains: "In 1965, a coup in Indonesia toppled the Chinese-backed Sukarno government. Subsequently, the war between Malaysia and Indonesia ended in 1966. However, the US continued its war against the communists in Vietnam."

Then, in 1967, five Southeast Asian countries, including Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand, put aside their mutual animosities and met in Bangkok. They resolved to stop the spread of communism and work for peace and prosperity in the region.

This marked the beginning of the foundation of ASEAN, the Association of South East Asian Nations. After the end of the Cold War in the 1990s, five new countries—Cambodia, Vietnam, Brunei, Laos, and Myanmar—joined the organization. These countries decided to increase their economic partnership with each other, so that any disputes would not lead to war. ASEAN now comprises 10 countries.

FTA between India and ASEAN countries 15 years ago

The relationship between India and ASEAN countries dates back to the 1990s, when Narasimha Rao's government launched the Act East Policy in 1992. The British magazine The Economist published a report on this on March 6, 1997. It stated that Nehru always considered Southeast Asian countries to be tail-enders of Western nations, but they were now emerging as economic models for India.

The Economist wrote that India is improving its economy by following the example of ASEAN countries. Indeed, after their differences were resolved, ASEAN countries began experiencing rapid economic growth. ASEAN became a group of rapidly emerging developing economies, a group that all countries wanted to join. Singapore's per capita income is significantly better than that of many developed countries.

In 2010, after nearly six years of meetings, India signed a free trade agreement with ASEAN countries. When the BJP came to power in 2014, Prime Minister Narendra Modi upgraded India's Look East policy to Act East policy.

ASEAN was formed amid US-Russia rivalry

After the end of World War II in 1945, the countries of Southeast Asia gained independence from Japanese and Western occupation. While their war with Japan was over, they continued to fight among themselves over ideological and border disputes. This period also coincided with the Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union.

Niranjan Oak, an expert on ASEAN affairs at the Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies, explains: "In 1965, a coup in Indonesia toppled the Chinese-backed Sukarno government. Subsequently, the war between Malaysia and Indonesia ended in 1966. However, the US continued its war against the communists in Vietnam."

Then, in 1967, five Southeast Asian countries, including Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand, put aside their mutual animosities and met in Bangkok. They resolved to stop the spread of communism and work for peace and prosperity in the region.

This marked the beginning of the foundation of ASEAN, the Association of South East Asian Nations. After the end of the Cold War in the 1990s, five new countries—Cambodia, Vietnam, Brunei, Laos, and Myanmar—joined the organization.

These countries decided to increase their economic partnership with each other, so that any disputes would not lead to war. ASEAN now comprises 10 countries.

FTA between India and ASEAN countries 15 years ago

The relationship between India and ASEAN countries dates back to the 1990s, when Narasimha Rao's government launched the Act East Policy in 1992. The British magazine The Economist published a report on this on March 6, 1997. It stated that Nehru always considered Southeast Asian countries to be tail-enders of Western nations, but they were now emerging as economic models for India.

The Economist wrote that India is improving its economy by following the example of ASEAN countries. Indeed, after their differences were resolved, ASEAN countries began experiencing rapid economic growth.

The ASEAN became a group of rapidly emerging developing economies, a group that all countries wanted to join. Singapore's per capita income is significantly better than that of many developed countries.

In 2010, after nearly six years of meetings, India signed a free trade agreement with ASEAN countries. When the BJP came to power in 2014, Prime Minister Narendra Modi upgraded India's Look East policy to Act East policy.