Modi to skip ASEAN Summit in person, deepening tensions with Washington over Russian oil, tariffs
Indian Premier’s decision to attend the ASEAN summit in Malaysia virtually — skipping an in-person meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump — has intensified speculation about strains in U.S.-India relations. The move comes amid escalating disputes over Russian oil imports, U.S. trade tariffs, and shifting geopolitical alignments in Asia.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced he will attend the upcoming Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit in Malaysia virtually, avoiding a direct meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump. His decision has fueled speculation about the strained state of U.S.-India relations amid disputes over Russian oil imports and trade tariffs.
In a brief post on X, Modi confirmed his virtual participation in the summit, emphasizing his “warm ties” with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and the goal of strengthening the ASEAN-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, dw.com reports.
However, he gave no explanation for his absence. Anwar later said he was informed that Modi would not attend in person due to India’s ongoing Diwali celebrations.
The Malaysian Foreign Ministry confirmed that Trump will attend the ASEAN summit in Kuala Lumpur on October 26 as part of his five-day tour of Asia, which also includes Japan and South Korea. The White House formally released Trump’s itinerary on Thursday evening, confirming his first in-person appearance in the region since returning to office.
The two leaders have sought to downplay tensions in recent weeks. During a Diwali celebration at the White House on Tuesday, Trump said he had a “very good relationship” with Modi and claimed India had significantly reduced its oil purchases from Russia. Modi responded with gratitude for Trump’s holiday greetings and pledged deeper cooperation on counterterrorism but avoided mentioning tariffs or oil.
Modi’s decision not to appear in person has drawn criticism at home. Opposition leaders argued that meeting Trump face-to-face could hurt Modi politically, given Trump’s recent statements.
Senior Congress Party member Jairam Ramesh said it would be “too risky” for Modi to be seen “hobnobbing” with Trump, who has repeatedly claimed credit for limiting India’s Russian oil purchases and averting a supposed war with Pakistan — a claim New Delhi denies.
Relations between the two leaders, once described as a “bromance,” have cooled since their warm meeting at the White House in February 2025.
Soon afterward, Trump imposed sweeping tariffs on Indian exports, starting with a 25% levy and later doubling it to 50% in response to India’s continued purchases of discounted Russian crude. The move marked one of the lowest points in U.S.-India relations in decades.
Last week, Trump claimed that Modi had “assured” him India would halt Russian oil imports — a statement Indian officials have neither confirmed nor denied.
Meanwhile, Reuters reported that India’s largest buyer of Russian crude, Reliance Industries, is preparing to “massively cut” its Russian oil intake in compliance with government guidelines.
The report came after Washington imposed sweeping new sanctions on Russian energy giants Rosneft and Lukoil, accusing them of financing Moscow’s war in Ukraine.
The sanctions freeze U.S.-based assets of both companies and allow for secondary penalties on foreign banks doing business with them — a move that could expose Indian financial institutions to U.S. penalties. The Treasury Department has given companies until November 21 to end transactions with the sanctioned firms.
Despite growing pressure, New Delhi insists it will continue to prioritize energy security and affordability for its citizens. Indian Foreign Ministry spokesman Randhir Jaiswal said energy talks with Washington are ongoing, stressing that India’s oil policy “safeguards the interests of the Indian consumer in a volatile global market.”
Analysts say a complete cutoff from Russian crude remains unlikely. “India may reduce imports but won’t bring them down to zero anytime soon,” said Sumit Ritolia, an oil analyst with Kpler in New Delhi. India’s imports of Russian oil have surged nearly nineteenfold since 2021, making Moscow its top crude supplier — a trade relationship that continues to test Modi’s balancing act between economic pragmatism and geopolitical pressure.
