When Prime Minister Narendra Modi decided to skip the ASEAN Summit in Malaysia and instead address it virtually, the usual critics rushed to brand it as “diplomatic disengagement." But beneath the surface lies a deliberate strategy, a mix of domestic political prudence and foreign policy foresight.

PM Modi’s choice at this important moment shows that he is not running away from the situation but making a strong point: India’s democratic needs and national interests should not be controlled by outside appearances or temporary expectations from the West.

Avoiding The Trump Show: A Tactical Move

At first glance, Modi’s absence was interpreted as a signal of cooling ties with Washington. But that is a misreading. The Prime Minister’s choice to let External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar represent India in Kuala Lumpur was a way of keeping India’s cards close to its chest amid delicate trade negotiations with the United States.

In recent weeks, US President Donald Trump has repeatedly made public remarks about India’s alleged plans to stop purchasing Russian oil, a statement not only misleading but also diplomatically intrusive. Knowing Trump’s penchant for grandstanding and impulsive declarations, Modi’s physical presence at ASEAN could have led to an awkward public spectacle, jeopardising India’s bargaining position on key trade issues.

As Harsh Pant of King’s College London aptly noted, “With Trump’s proclivity to say all kinds of things publicly and the expectation that Modi would also reciprocate publicly, it would have created an awkward situation." Precisely. Modi’s discretion ensured that diplomacy remained behind closed doors, where it belongs, not on a global stage where Trump’s theatrics could corner India........

© News18