Prime Minister Narendra Modi will not address the high-level 80th session of the UN General Assembly later this month. According to a revised list of speakers released on Friday, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will deliver India’s statement on September 27.
An earlier list from July had scheduled Modi to speak on September 26, the same day that the heads of government for Israel, China, Pakistan, and Bangladesh are also set to address the Assembly. This change means that Modi will not share the UNGA stage this year with leaders he has frequently met at other international forums.
The General Debate is scheduled to take place from September 23 to 29. Brazil will speak first, followed by the United States. US President Donald Trump is set to address world leaders on September 23, marking his first UNGA appearance since beginning his second term in the White House.
Trump's speech is anticipated to be closely watched in New Delhi, especially since it comes days after his public criticism of India's oil imports from Russia. Earlier in the week, the US President said that Washington had “lost India and Russia to China,” though he later clarified that he was only "very disappointed" with India's continued purchases of Russian oil. He noted that his administration had responded by imposing a 50pc tariff on India.
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Despite his criticism, Trump emphasised his strong personal relationship with Modi, referring to him as a "great Prime Minister" and stating that the two leaders would "always be friends." He also added, "India and the United States have a very special relationship. There is nothing to worry about. We just have moments on occasion."
The US tariffs, which were announced last month, are considered the most severe trade action taken against India in recent years. Tensions were further strained after Trump shared a picture of Modi with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Tianjin, suggesting that New Delhi was aligning more closely with Moscow and Beijing.
While India has not directly responded to Trump’s remarks, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal declined to comment when asked if Washington’s concerns reflected a shift in India’s foreign policy.
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