New Delhi, Aug. 13: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to travel to the United States in September to address the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), according to a provisional list of speakers released by the UN.
The UNGA will open on September 9, with the high-level General Debate scheduled for September 23–29. Brazil will traditionally open the debate, followed by the United States, where President Donald Trump is set to deliver his first UNGA address of his second term on September 23.
The list currently schedules India’s “Head of Government” to speak on the morning of September 26, the same day as the leaders of Israel, China, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. The schedule remains subject to change.
Modi last visited the US in February for a bilateral meeting with Trump at the White House, after which both sides announced plans to finalise the first tranche of a multi-sector Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) by fall 2025. However, trade ties have since faced strain after Trump imposed tariffs totalling 50 per cent on India, including a 25 per cent levy on Russian oil imports, effective August 27.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs has called the tariffs “unjustified and unreasonable,” adding, “Like any major economy, India will take all necessary measures to safeguard its national interests and economic security.”
The additional tariffs were announced days before a US delegation is set to arrive in India on August 25 for the sixth round of BTA negotiations, with both sides aiming to conclude the pact’s first phase by October–November this year.
The 2025 UNGA session takes place against the backdrop of ongoing global crises, including the Israel-Hamas war and the conflict in Ukraine. Trump has claimed his administration has mediated several peace agreements in recent months, including between Armenia and Azerbaijan, Israel and Iran, and Egypt and Ethiopia. He has also repeatedly taken credit for halting the May conflict between India and Pakistan.
