United Nations, Sept 6: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will not address the high-level General Debate at the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) session later this month. Instead, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar will speak on September 27, according to a revised list of speakers released on Friday.
The UNGA session opens on September 9, while the General Debate will run from September 23 to 29. As per tradition, Brazil will speak first, followed by the United States. President Donald Trump is scheduled to address world leaders on September 23 — his first UNGA speech since starting his second term in office.
India was previously listed to be represented by Modi on September 26. However, the revised schedule confirms that a minister-level representative will now speak on India’s behalf.
The change comes months after Modi’s February visit to Washington, where he met with President Trump for bilateral talks. Relations between the two countries have seen tension lately, especially after the US imposed tariffs totaling 50% on Indian goods, including a 25% duty on Russian oil purchases made by Delhi.
The updated list also shows that the leaders of Israel, China, Pakistan, and Bangladesh will speak on September 26.
The 80th UNGA session is expected to be one of the most significant in recent years. It comes amid ongoing global crises, including the Israel-Hamas war and the Russia-Ukraine conflict. This year’s theme is:
“Better together: 80 years and more for peace, development and human rights.”
On September 22, the UN will hold a special meeting to commemorate the 80th anniversary of its founding.
Other key events during the high-level week include:
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UN Climate Summit (Sept 24): Leaders will unveil updated national climate action plans.
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Beijing+30 (Women’s Rights): A high-level meeting will review progress since the 1995 Beijing Conference on gender equality.
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AI Governance Dialogue: Launch of a global discussion on AI regulations.
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Summits on Mental Health, Youth, and Sustainable Economy.
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International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons.
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Discussion on the situation of Rohingya Muslims and other minorities in Myanmar.
The UNGA speaker schedule remains provisional and subject to further changes, officials said.
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