Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Manila (capital of Philippines) from November 16 to 18, 2026 for the 23rd ASEAN-India Summit and 21st East Asia Summit. The forthcoming visit will further India’s diplomatic engagement with Southeast Asian countries and commitment towards regional cooperation.
On 12 November MEA Secretary (East) Rudrendra Tandon briefed the media in New Delhi on PM’s visit. He explained why two summits were important and how India’s engagement with ASEAN fits into its overall foreign policy objectives.
East Asia Summit: A Platform for Regional Dialogue
Tandon said at the briefing that the East Asia Summit was a “unique ASEAN-led forum where leaders from ASEAN member states and eight other participating countries meet”.
It is an opportunity for leaders to talk about international security issues, regional developments and common concerns. In contrast with more formal diplomatic meetings the summit creates a dialogue (leaders-led) rather than a discussion (diplomats).
The Philippines is chairing this year’s ASEAN process so Manila will host the meetings. Tandon said ASEAN was collective diplomacy and brought regional leaders together to tackle shared challenges.
'Navigating the Future' Sets the Summit Theme
The theme of this year’s ASEAN Summit and related meetings is ‘Navigating the Future’.
“We will talk about how to improve cooperation between participating countries, resilience in the face of rapid changes across the region and the world,” Tandon said.
The theme speaks to collective responses to emerging challenges. Regional countries should find ways to enhance cooperation and stability while adapting to changing geopolitical and economic conditions.
ASEAN Engagement Supports India's Act East Policy
Tandon said India’s relationship with ASEAN is an important pillar of its Act East Policy. India’s engagement with the grouping goes beyond leaders’ meetings — foreign ministers, senior officials and sectoral discussions are also part of it.
ASEAN is also an important economic partner for India. Trade and commercial engagement strengthens regional ties.
India’s presence at the upcoming summits would be another opportunity to discuss economic cooperation, regional security and people-to-people ties.
#WATCH | Delhi: Secretary (East) in the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Rudrendra Tandon says, "... After the India-ASEAN Summit, the Prime Minister will then participate in the 21st East Asia Summit process. The East Asia Summit process is also a very unique ASEAN-led grouping of eight leaders, where it's a leaders-led forum. The leaders of ASEAN and these eight countries basically discuss, in an informal setting, global security issues and issues of common concern. This year's East Asia Summit process is led by the ASEAN Chair, which is the Philippines. That's why it's happening in Manila. This, too, is a remarkable example of how successful ASEAN collective diplomacy has become... The theme of this year's ASEAN Summit and ASEAN processes has been "Navigating the Future", so the leaders will be very much focused on how to enhance collaboration with each other, so as to become more resilient to handle the changes around us..."
— ANI (@ANI) November 12, 2026
PM Modi's Expected Programme in Manila
The Prime Minister's programme will include the main summit sessions as well as bilateral meetings with participants. Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is expected to host a dinner for visiting dignitaries.
MEA briefing said that an interaction between Modi and members of Indian community in Philippines is being planned.
These kinds of engagements are part of India’s diplomatic outreach: the government connects with overseas Indians and builds relationships with partner countries.
Why the Manila Summits Matter for India
The 23rd ASEAN-India Summit and the 21st East Asia Summit are important forums for India to engage with regional leaders on shared priorities.
In a period of changing geopolitics across the Indo-Pacific India’s engagement signals its interest in regional stability, economic cooperation and a rules-based international order.
The November meetings will also be an opportunity to deepen India’s ties with ASEAN members and advance the Act East Policy objectives. The MEA briefing has set the scene for a major diplomatic visit on cooperation, resilience and future of Indo-Pacific region.
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