Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Philippines is crucial for India in many ways. PM will be attending the ASEAN, the East Asia and the India-ASEAN annual Summits. The summit offers an opportunity to the India to push for crafting a global approach to deal with growing challenge of terrorism and radicalisation besides pitching for steps to boost regional trade. There is continued threat of terrorism emanating from hostile neighbour Pakistan. Modi is likely to have a series of bilateral meetings with a number of leaders including US President Donald Trump, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Russian Premier Dmitry Medvedev.
He will have to use his good rapport with world leaders especially president Trump and PM Abe to put pressure on Pakistan to take more decisive action against the terrorists operating from inside the Pakistan. The thorny issue of China’s aggressive military maneuver in the disputed South China Sea and North Korea’s nuclear missile tests are also issues which concerns India. Also China has taken stand opposite of India on several major international issues. Therefore it becomes natural for India to use important occasion like ASEAN summit to woo potential partners to collectively take stand on major contentious international issue. PM Modi should also discuss raging Rohingya issue with Myanmar’s State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi. There is growing fear that Rohingya migrants are illegally entering into India.