Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s decision to skip the Asean summit in Malaysia was probably made with an eye on coming crucial state polls in Bihar and to avoid meeting US President Donald Trump amid sensitive trade negotiations, analysts have said.
During a special event at the White House last week, Trump had reiterated claims that India would stop buying Russian oil. The US president then attended the Asean meeting in Kuala Lumpur before departing for Japan on Monday.
Modi addressed the summit virtually, touching on a host of issues such as the need for a review of an India-Asean Free Trade Agreement, boosting tourism and maritime cooperation as well as pledging to support the humanitarian efforts of East Timor, the newest member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, who led a government delegation, met US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Kuala Lumpur on the sidelines of the Asean summit on Monday.
Jaishankar said in a post on social media: “Appreciated the discussion on our bilateral ties as well as regional and global issues.”
The meeting occurred at a time when India and the US are trying to negotiate a bilateral trade deal, which according to Indian media reports is in the final stages.
