Rama Krishna Sangem
Is Prime Minister Narendra Modi avoiding meeting US President Donald Trump? This is the doubts raised by opposition Congress leaders on October 22, after the former said that he would attend ASEAN countries summit in Malaysia from October 26-28. There is no response from the external affairs ministry to the doubt, but it is clear that Modi is carefully avoiding meeting Trump since around April this year. In April, Trump imposed 25 per cent tariffs on India. Later the increased them to 50 per cent.
Modi avoided some occasions that would allowed him to meet Trump in person. While returning from G-7 summit in Canada, Modi got a call from the president to join him at White House for a lunch. But, there was also Pakistan Field Marshal Asim Munir at the lunch. So, Modi politely turned down the invitation. Later, Modi skipped UN General Assembly session in New York in September last week, as there was no scope of a meeting with Trump.
Now this Malaysian summit of ASEAN, where Trump is meeting Chinese president Xi Jinping, but not Modi. Of course, Modi and Trump are talking on telephones, but not meeting in person. This appears to be case, as there is no chance of these two leaders meeting before a trade deal is finalised by the end of this year, say experts.
Modi will participate virtually ASEAN summit
Modi will participate virtually in the ASEAN summit in Kuala Lumpur, ruling out a possible meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump and indicating New Delhi and Washington may not be close to sealing a trade deal.
The U.S. 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% tariff on Indian goods in August, raising total levies to 50%.
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. Anwar also said he had been informed Modi would attend the gathering virtually “due to the ongoing Deepavali celebrations in India at that time”, referring to the Hindu festival of lights celebrated this week.
The meeting of the leaders of the Southeast Asian grouping will take place in the Malaysian capital from October 26 to October 28. It will be attended by all 10 members of the bloc and key trading partners such as China, Japan and the U.S.
Malaysia’s foreign minister said last week that Trump would visit the country on October 26, fuelling speculation in India about a possible meeting with Modi, who was previously expected to attend the summit in person. There has been no official confirmation on the trip from Washington. Trump and Modi spoke on Tuesday, both leaders said, with Trump adding that their conversation focused largely on trade.
Modi did not elaborate on the content of their conversation. On Wednesday, India’s Mint media outlet reported the countries were close to a deal that would cut tariffs on Indian imports to 15% to 16%, though progress hinged on energy and agriculture, says a Reuters story..
