New Delhi: PM Modi is expected to attend the UNGA session in New York on September 26, amid strained India-US trade ties. POTUS Trump will also address the gathering in his first UNGA speech of his second term.
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to address the United Nations General Assembly’s (UNGA) annual high-level session in September, according to a provisional list of speakers released by the UN and reported by PTI on Wednesday. US President Donald Trump is also set to speak at the gathering, his first UNGA address since beginning his second term.
Tensions over Trump’s tariff announcements ahead of visit
PM Modi’s possible trip to New York comes amid heightened trade tensions between India and the United States, following President Trump’s decision to impose reciprocal tariffs on Indian imports.
When PM Modi visited Washington for a bilateral meeting with President Trump at the White House in February this year, both leaders agreed to work towards the first phase of a Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA), intended to be mutually beneficial, by autumn 2025.
However, despite ongoing trade negotiations, Trump ordered a 25 per cent additional tariff on Indian purchases of Russian oil, bringing the total tariff to 50 per cent. The Ministry of External Affairs described the move as “unjustified and unreasonable”, adding that India would take necessary steps to safeguard its economic security.
Trump’s tariff order coincides with a US delegation’s scheduled visit to India on August 25 for the sixth round of Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) talks. Both nations aim to finalise the first phase of the pact by October or November this year.
80th UNGA debate
The 80th UNGA high-level debate will take place from September 23 to 29, with Brazil delivering the opening address, followed by the United States in keeping with tradition.
The provisional schedule lists India’s “Head of Government” to speak on the morning of September 26. Leaders from Israel, China, Pakistan, and Bangladesh are also due to address the Assembly the same day.
The UNGA speaker list remains provisional and may change in the coming weeks. The September session is considered the busiest period in the UN’s diplomatic calendar. This year’s debate will be held against the backdrop of the ongoing Israel-Hamas and Ukraine-Russia conflicts, adding weight to the discussions.
