Will Kuala Lumpur host a Modi-Trump reset next month? ASEAN 2025 under global spotlight

US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi - File Photo

Kuala Lumpur will draw intense diplomatic attention this October as the 47th ASEAN Summit prepares to host a packed roster of leaders. Speculation is rife that it could feature an in-person meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump. While there is no official confirmation from either side, such an encounter is keenly awaited amid the recent thaw in India-US relations.

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has confirmed that Trump personally called him to convey his intention to attend the gathering from October 26 to 28. Although Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s presence has not yet been officially announced, Indian officials point out that he has consistently attended ASEAN summits in previous years, making his participation highly likely.

CNN-News18, citing top sources, reports that PM Modi will not travel to the US for the UN General Assembly later this month. The sources also said there has been no discussion about a Modi-Trump meeting in Malaysia. Neither India nor the US has officially confirmed their leaders’ visits to the ASEAN Summit.

If Modi does travel to Malaysia, the summit could set the stage for the first in-person meeting between the two leaders since Trump returned to the White House. Their last direct interaction came via telephone on September 16, on the eve of Modi’s 75th birthday. A handshake in Kuala Lumpur would be closely watched for signs of how New Delhi and Washington intend to navigate a relationship currently strained by trade disputes, Russia-related oil purchases and divergent foreign policy priorities.

This year’s ASEAN Summit may be one of the few opportunities for Trump and Modi to meet face-to-face before the end of 2025. The US President is not expected to attend the G20 Summit in South Africa in November, and although a QUAD Leaders’ Summit in India is planned, no firm dates have been finalised for his visit. When they spoke by phone in June, Trump accepted Modi’s invitation to travel to India for the QUAD meeting, but New Delhi is still awaiting confirmation from the White House.

The potential encounter comes at a delicate time for US–India ties. Trump’s decision to impose tariffs of up to 50 per cent on select Indian exports has been criticised in New Delhi, while Washington has expressed frustration over India’s continued imports of Russian oil despite the Ukraine war. Tensions escalated further when Trump posted a provocative message on his social media platform showing Modi alongside Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping at a Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit, with the caption “Looks like we’ve lost India and Russia to deepest, darkest China. May they have a long and prosperous future together!” The post drew concern in both capitals and fuelled speculation about the direction of US policy.

However, the US President has signalled a significant thaw in the strained ties between India and US with both sides acknowledging that the trade negotiations were underway. Two days after extending birthday wishes to PM Modi, Trump on Thursday said he is “very close” to India and shares a strong personal rapport with the Indian prime minister.

Addressing a joint press conference with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer at Chequers, the British PM's countryside residence, Trump said he has a “very good relationship” with Modi and also wished him on his 75th birthday -- a gesture reciprocated by the Indian leader with a “beautiful” statement.

“I'm very close to India. I'm very close to the Prime Minister of India. I spoke to him the other day to wish him a Happy Birthday," Trump told reporters.

"We have a very good relationship, and he put out a beautiful statement too. But I sanctioned them,” he said, in response to a question about his plans on dealing with Russian President Vladimir Putin.