Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to travel to Manila, Philippines from 16 to 18 November to attend the 23rd ASEAN-India Summit and the 21st East Asia Summit, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) confirmed on Thursday, 12 November. The visit marks a significant milestone in India's engagement with Southeast Asia under its Act East Policy.

Key Engagements on the Schedule

The Prime Minister's programme in Manila will begin with a dinner hosted by Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr for visiting dignitaries. This will be followed by the ASEAN-India Summit and the East Asia Summit the next day, interspersed with bilateral meetings with other participating leaders.

Rudrendra Tandon, Secretary (East) at the MEA, who announced the visit during a special media briefing in New Delhi, also indicated that efforts are under way to accommodate a meeting between Modi and members of the Indian community in the Philippines. 'There is also a very strong demand from the Indian community to meet the Prime Minister, so we are trying to adjust that also in his schedule,' Tandon said.

India's Strategic Case for ASEAN Engagement

Tandon underscored the centrality of the ASEAN platform to India's foreign policy architecture. 'In addition to a very active bilateral relationship with all 11 ASEAN member states, we see our engagement with the ASEAN regional platform also as a key element or building block of our Act East policy,' he said.

He further noted that ASEAN has emerged as one of India's most significant trading partners, with bilateral trade across the entire region standing at approximately $122 billion. 'We in India strongly believe that, as an Indian Ocean country that abuts this very important Southeast Asian maritime zone, a strong strategic relationship with the ASEAN member states, as a collective as well as individually, is good for both of us,' Tandon added.

Geopolitical Resilience at the Core

The MEA Secretary described the East Asia Summit as a unique ASEAN-led grouping in which leaders discuss global security issues in an informal setting. This year's edition is chaired by the Philippines as the ASEAN Chair, which is why the meetings are being held in Manila.

The overarching theme of this year's ASEAN processes — 'Navigating the Future' — reflects a collective focus on building resilience amid rapid geopolitical shifts. Tandon noted that stronger India-ASEAN ties would 'contribute to peace and stability in Asia as a whole.'

What to Watch

Analysts will closely track the outcomes of Modi's bilateral meetings on the sidelines, particularly with leaders of ASEAN states where India is deepening trade and defence ties. The summit comes at a moment of heightened strategic competition in the Indo-Pacific, making India's posture in Manila especially consequential. Official statements and joint communiqués from the summit are expected by 18 November.