PM Modi To Skip UNGA Session, Jaishankar To Represent India On September 27

PM Modi To Skip UNGA Session, Jaishankar To Represent India At The UNGA General Debate On September 27 Amid Strained US-India Ties

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will not travel to the United States this September for the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) session. Instead, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will represent India at the UNGA General Debate during the High-Level Week on September 27, according to the provisional list of speakers released on September 5. This arrangement follows recent convention, as Jaishankar has represented India at the General Debate since 2022.

In his tenure as Prime Minister since 2014, Narendra Modi has personally addressed the UNGA General Debate four times—in 2014, 2019, 2020, and 2021. In other years, either the then External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj or Jaishankar himself took the podium on behalf of India. Last year, Modi attended the UN headquarters but did not participate in the General Debate, instead addressing the “Summit of the Future” two days prior. This year’s General Debate is scheduled from September 23–29, beginning with Brazil, followed by the United States. Notably, US President Donald Trump is expected to make his first appearance at the UNGA since returning to the White House for a second term.

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Although Modi will not be attending the UNGA, international attention remains focused on India’s relations with the United States. Earlier this year, during Modi’s visit to Washington, Trump had accepted an invitation to visit India for the QUAD Summit scheduled later in 2024. However, a recent New York Times report suggested that Trump has backed away from the trip, citing ongoing trade and diplomatic tensions with New Delhi.

A major point of contention is the steep 50 per cent tariff imposed by Washington on Indian goods, one of the highest levied against any US trading partner. This includes a 25 per cent penalty connected to India’s continued purchase of oil from Russia. These measures have strained bilateral relations significantly, with both governments exchanging sharp words over the past few weeks. Trump and his close advisors have also made several disparaging remarks about India, fueling further unease between the two countries.

Earlier this week, Trump stated that Washington had “lost India and Russia to China,” a remark that sparked criticism. Days later, however, he clarified his stance, saying he was “very disappointed” with India’s oil trade with Moscow but maintained his personal respect for Prime Minister Modi. Trump emphasized that while he disagreed with India’s current energy policy, the broader US-India partnership remained strong. “I will always be friends with Modi. He is a great Prime Minister. India and the United States have a special relationship. There is nothing to worry about,” he remarked.

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Despite these reassurances, the imposition of tariffs and Trump’s sharp rhetoric underline a rocky phase in bilateral ties. Observers note that India has been trying to balance its strategic relations with both the US and Russia, a balancing act complicated by global energy politics and the shifting geopolitical landscape in Asia. Washington’s pressure campaign over Russian oil imports contrasts with New Delhi’s insistence on safeguarding its national energy security and economic interests.

Jaishankar’s upcoming address at the UNGA will be closely watched for any indications of how India plans to navigate these tensions on the global stage. With key issues such as multilateral reforms, climate change, global south representation, and security challenges dominating the agenda, India’s voice at the General Debate will hold significant weight. While Modi’s absence from the UNGA is in line with past practice, the geopolitical backdrop of strained ties with Washington gives this year’s session added importance.

As the world’s largest democracy and a key player in the Indo-Pacific, India’s positions at the UNGA resonate far beyond its borders. Jaishankar, known for his diplomatic acumen, is expected to articulate India’s perspective firmly while balancing delicate international relationships. Whether this moment further strengthens India’s global role or underscores the difficulties of navigating great-power politics remains to be seen, but it is clear that the UNGA stage will once again spotlight New Delhi’s voice in global affairs.

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