PM Modi Unlikely To Attend UN Session In US; India’s Address To Be Delivered By S Jaishankar: Report

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to skip the upcoming annual high-level session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) this month, news agency PTI reported, citing the revised provisional list of speakers issued.

The 80th UNGA session begins on 9 September, with the General Debate scheduled from 23 to 29 September.

Brazil will open the debate, as per tradition, followed by the United States.

US President Donald Trump is slated to address the Assembly on 23 September, marking his first speech at the UNGA since starting his second term in office.

The updated speaker list released Friday (5 September) shows India will be represented by a 'minister', rather than the Prime Minister, during the high-level General debate of the 80th session of the UNGA.

According to the PTI report, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will address the session on 27 September.

According to an earlier speaker list issued in July, PM Modi was scheduled to address the General Debate on 26 September.

On 26 September, the leaders of Israel, China, Pakistan and Bangladesh are expected to take the UNGA podium.

Earlier in February, PM Modi visited Washington for a bilateral meeting with President Trump.

The US has since imposed tariffs amounting to 50 per cent on India, including duties on Russian oil imports by New Delhi.

However, it should be noted that the UNGA list of speakers for the General Debate remains provisional and could undergo changes ahead of the commencement of the high-level week.

Further updates to the list of speakers are expected as the session draws closer.

The annual September high-level session, often considered as the busiest period for UN diplomacy, will once again convene in UN headquarters at New York.

This year’s session convenes against the backdrop of the Israel-Hamas war and the ongoing Ukraine conflict. Its theme is “Better together: 80 years and more for peace, development and human rights.”

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