India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi will participate virtually in the ASEAN summit in Kuala Lumpur, ruling out a possible meeting with US President Donald Trump and indicating New Delhi and Washington may not be close to sealing a trade deal. The US and India have been negotiating for months to thrash out a trade deal, but talks have been complicated by the South Asian nation’s Russian oil imports, which prompted Washington to impose a punitive 25 percent tariff on Indian goods in August, raising total levies to 50 percent. “Look forward to joining the ASEAN – India Summit virtually, and to further deepening of the ASEAN – India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership,” Modi said on X on Thursday while referring to a conversation with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
Modi to attend ASEAN summit virtually, ruling out Trump meeting
Published on: October 24, 2025 12:45 AM