PM Modi to give a miss to UNGA General Debate in UN
PM Modi is to give a miss to the General Debate at the high-level 80th session of the UN General Assembly later this month. Instead, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will deliver India’s statement on September 27 as per a revised list of speakers issued on Friday.
An earlier list released in July had slated PM Modi to speak on September 26, a day when the heads of government of Israel, China, Pakistan and Bangladesh are scheduled to address the Assembly.
The change means PM Modi will not share the UNGA stage this year with leaders he has frequently encountered on international platforms.
The General Debate runs from September 23–29, with Brazil speaking first, followed by the United States.
US President Donald Trump will address world leaders on September 23, marking his first UNGA appearance since returning to the White House for a second term.
New Delhi will keep a close watch at Trump’s speech, coming days after he publicly criticised India’s oil imports from Russia amid the Ukraine war. Earlier this week, the US President said Washington had “lost India and Russia to China” but later clarified he was only “very disappointed” with India’s continued purchases of Russian oil. He said his administration had imposed a 50 per cent tariff on India as a result.
In total disregard to the criticism, Trump stressed his personal equation with Modi, calling him a “great Prime Minister” and underlining that the two leaders would “always be friends.” He further went on add that “India and the United States share very special bond. There is nothing to worry about. They just have moments on occasion.
The 80th session of the UNGA, opening September 9, will unfold against the backdrop of the Israel-Hamas war and the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict. The theme this year is “Better together: 80 years and more for peace, development and human rights.”
The packed agenda includes:
September 22: Commemoration of the UN’s 80th anniversary
September 24: Climate Summit convened by Secretary-General Antonio Guterres
A high-level meeting marking 30 years of the Beijing Declarations on women’s rights
Summits on global economy, youth, noncommunicable diseases, mental health, AI governance, nuclear disarmament, and the Rohingya crisis
Defined as the UN’s “busiest diplomatic season,” the high-level week is expected to highlight not just global conflicts but also the shifting equations between major powers, including how New Delhi balances its strained ties with Washington even as Modi sits out the Assembly’s marquee debate this year.
News KV Raman
