PM Modi’s Laos Visit for Key Summits Amid Regional Tensions

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to embark on a two-day official visit to Laos from October 10-11, 2024. The purpose of the trip is to attend the 21st ASEAN-India Summit and the 19th East Asia Summit, both pivotal gatherings amid significant regional developments. According to the Ministry of External Affairs, these events are of strategic importance, particularly as India marks ten years of its Act East Policy, with ASEAN relations serving as a central pillar of this policy.

Mr. Modi’s visit comes at the invitation of Laotian Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone, the current chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). During his stay in the capital city of Vientiane, the Indian Prime Minister is scheduled to participate in several bilateral meetings with leaders of ASEAN member states and other invited countries. Notably, this visit highlights India’s growing cooperation with its Indo-Pacific partners.

Much of the focus during the ASEAN summit will likely be on regional geopolitical tensions, including the ongoing maritime disputes between the Philippines and China in the South China Sea, as well as the escalating crisis in Myanmar. The Myanmar conflict, involving ethnic armed organizations clashing with the military junta, poses significant obstacles to regional security and connectivity plans.

Additionally, Laos will be hosting Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Japan’s newly appointed Prime Minister, Shigeru Ishiba, marking his first diplomatic engagement since taking office on October 1. In a cultural highlight, Prime Minister Modi will attend a local adaptation of the Ramayana, known as Phra Lak Phra Lam, which is one of many Southeast Asian reinterpretations of the ancient Indian epic.

The East Asia Summit will provide a platform for leaders to discuss issues of regional importance and build strategic trust. As part of the strategic dialogue, the forum will address regional security concerns, economic collaborations, and avenues for fostering greater connectivity in the region.