New Delhi, Nov. 13 -- Former diplomat Vidya Bhushan Soni said on Friday that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's upcoming visit to the Philippines for the ASEAN and East Asia Summits presents a vital opportunity to repair strained ties with US President Donald Trump through "concrete action" rather than rhetoric.

Speaking to ANI ahead of the November 16-18 meetings in Manila, Soni noted that the gathering comes at a critical juncture as rapid global developments unfold without a common venue for top leaders to meet. He suggested that recent political shifts, including the US midterm elections and domestic economic pressures, could prompt a shift in Washington's approach.

"Our relationship in the last few months has been very, very tense. The...