VOIWORLD/Sumit Chaturvedi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will not be attending the upcoming ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur in person, which means he is also likely to miss a potential meeting with US President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the event.
According to Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, Modi personally called him to convey that he would be joining the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit virtually instead of traveling to Malaysia. In a Facebook post shared on Thursday, Anwar said, “He announced that he would attend online given the Deepavali celebrations that are still being observed in India at that time. I respect his decision and extend my Deepavali greetings to him and
Modi called Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to inform him he’ll attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit virtually, Anwar said in a Facebook post Thursday.
“He announced that he would attend online given the Deepavali celebrations that are still being celebrated in India at that time,” Anwar said. “I respect the decision and extend my Deepavali greetings to him and all the people of India.”
India and the US have been locked in a trade dispute after Trump slapped 50% tariffs on the South Asian nation’s exports, partly to penalize the country for buying oil from Russia. Trump said Tuesday he spoke with Modi, who assured him that India would cut Russian energy purchases. New Delhi hasn’t confirmed it would comply with Trump’s demands.
Earlier in a post shared on X (formerly Twitter) early Wednesday morning, Prime Minister Modi thanked President Trump for his thoughtful gesture and extended his best wishes to the people of the United States. “Thank you, President Trump, for your phone call and warm Diwali greetings. On this festival of lights, may our two great democracies continue to illuminate the world with hope and stand united against terrorism in all its forms,” Modi wrote, tagging Trump’s official X handle in his message.
According to reports, President Trump had called his “good friend” Narendra Modi to personally convey Diwali greetings, recognizing the festival’s global significance and the large Indian diaspora in the United States. During the conversation, the two leaders are believed to have discussed the enduring friendship between India and the United States, emphasizing shared democratic values, cooperation on global challenges, and the importance of working together to ensure peace and stability in an increasingly volatile world.
The Indian Prime Minister’s message, which quickly garnered thousands of likes and shares online, resonated with citizens across both nations, serving as a reminder of the spiritual and cultural connections that festivals like Diwali bring to the global stage.
Observers noted that Modi’s emphasis on unity against terrorism reflected the two nations’ continued collaboration on security and counterterrorism efforts. The sentiment also underscored India’s long-standing stance against extremism and its call for collective global action to combat the threat.
The warm exchange between Modi and Trump added a diplomatic glow to Diwali celebrations, symbolizing a partnership that aspires to bring light, prosperity, and peace to their nations — and to the world at large.
