Manila, October 12 (Daily Kiran) : U.S. President Donald Trump is set to participate in the upcoming ASEAN summit in Manila, Philippines, next month. According to the White House, Trump will attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit on November 16, before heading to China for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit from November 17 to 19.
This trip aims to reaffirm America’s commitment to its allies in Southeast Asia and to advance U.S. economic and national security objectives. Reports indicate that Trump is likely to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping during his visit to China. This would mark their third face-to-face meeting this year, following their discussions in Beijing in May and Xi’s visit to the White House last month.
As the current chair of ASEAN, the Philippines has declared November 16 to 18 as public holidays for the 49th ASEAN summit and related events, which include the East Asia Summit, featuring both India and the U.S.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio hinted at the President’s interest in attending the summit back in July during a meeting of ASEAN foreign ministers in Manila. He noted, “I think President Trump would like to go, but I don’t know his schedule at this time.”
In September, during the BRICS summit in New Delhi, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. reiterated an invitation to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to attend both the ASEAN-India summit and the East Asia Summit. Following their meeting, Marcos expressed eagerness to welcome Modi to Manila in November.
Should Trump and Modi meet in Manila, it would occur amid some tensions between Washington and New Delhi over tariffs and India’s purchase of Russian oil. Last year, Modi attended the ASEAN-India summit virtually from Kuala Lumpur, while he sent External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar to the East Asia Summit, where Trump was present, resulting in no direct meeting between the two leaders.
The last conversation between the two leaders took place over the phone on September 30, which Modi described as “meaningful.”
Additionally, October 18 is being viewed as a significant date. Under Section 113 of the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act 2026, the President must decide whether to impose a 100% additional tariff on the top five countries purchasing crude oil or natural gas from Russia. Since 2022, India has been among the leading countries buying Russian oil.
However, the law also allows the President to postpone this action if he assures Congress that waiving tariffs is in the national interest of the United States.
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