New Delhi: The revised provisional list of speakers for the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) published Friday does not mention an address by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. However, it does mention that India will be represented by a minister.
The list indicates whether a country participating in the UNGA is represented by its Head of State, Head of Government or a Minister. The list published Friday has ‘(M)’ highlighted next to India, indicating that a minister, likely External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar is to represent New Delhi at the annual session of the UNGA. It should be noted that this is a revised provisional list and subject to change.
The Indian representative is scheduled to speak on the morning of 27 September after ministers from Germany and Iceland. India’s partner Russia is also set to speak at the UNGA on the morning of 27 September.
The absence of Modi’s name in the UNGA provisional list of speakers comes amid tensions in ties between India and the US, with Washington imposing 50 percent tariffs on New Delhi, which came into effect on 27 August.
However, Modi Saturday morning commented on India’s ties with the US, declaring that the two countries have a “very positive and forward-looking Comprehensive and Global Strategic Partnership” in a post on the social media platform X.
“Deeply appreciate and fully reciprocate President Trump’s sentiments and positive assessment of our ties,” added Modi. His comments came after US President Donald J. Trump highlighted that India and the US have a “special relationship” and that Modi “is a great Prime Minister”.
On Friday, Trump had lamented that the US had “lost” India and Russia to “deepest, darkest, China”. Ties have been hit by the US’ insistence on market access to India’s agricultural and dairy sectors. The Trump administration has also hit out at New Delhi’s continued purchase of Russian oil and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick 5 September demanded that India exit the BRICS grouping as well.
US President Trump is set to speak at the UNGA on the first day of the 80th session on 23 September, after the President of Brazil Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Trump has taken aim at Lula as well in recent months, imposing 50 percent tariffs on Brazil and coming out in support of the ex-President of Brazil, Jair Bolsonaro.
The Heads of Government of Israel, Pakistan and China are set to speak one after another on the morning of 26 September. The high-level general assembly debate at the UN is scheduled to begin on 23 September and will run till 29 September.
The session this year comes as two conflicts—the Israel-Hamas war in West Asia and the Russia-Ukraine war in Eastern Europe—continue to rage. The war in Eastern Europe has been ongoing for three and a half years, while the West Asian conflict is inching towards its second anniversary next month.
Last year, Modi did not attend the UNGA, however, he did speak at the UN Summit of the Future, which was held days before the high-level debates at the general assembly.
(Edited by Viny Mishra)