Prime Minister Narendra Modi will not address the General Debate at the upcoming United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York later this month, a move that comes amid escalating tensions in U.S.–India trade relations, particularly over new tariffs imposed by Washington. Instead, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar will speak for India on September 27, according to a revised provisional speakers list released by the UN. Modi was originally slated for September 26.
Observers say the decision to sideline Modi’s presence at the high-profile Assembly reflects the fraught backdrop of a 25% reciprocal tariff from the U.S., later augmented with an additional 25% penalty tied to India’s ongoing oil imports from Russia, triggering widespread criticism in India. These tariffs among the steepest imposed on any trading partner have triggered deep concerns about the future of the Indo-U.S. strategic partnership.
Despite the diplomatic chill, Modi sought to project calm, emphasizing that ties with the United States remain “very positive,” even as public discourse grows animated. Meanwhile, key voices from the opposition echoed growing unease: Tejashwi Yadav accused the Prime Minister of “dancing to America’s tune,” while Rahul Gandhi suggested Modi’s muted response stemmed from entanglements in a U.S. probe involving a major Indian conglomerate.
With global crises—including wars in Ukraine and Gaza—dominating the UNGA agenda, India’s absence from the UN podium takes on symbolic weight. The 80th UNGA session promises a jam-packed slate of discussions on peacebuilding, climate, human rights, and gender equality, in what is being described as the UN’s “busiest diplomatic season.”
