Modi to skip UN general assembly

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will not address the upcoming 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York later this month, reports NDTV.

Instead, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will represent India and deliver the country’s address on September 27, according to the updated list of speakers released by the UN on Friday (September 5).

The earlier provisional schedule had listed PM Modi to speak on September 26, the same day leaders of Bangladesh, Pakistan, China and Israel are scheduled to address the Assembly. US President Donald Trump will open the high-level debate on September 23, followed by the President of Brazil.

This year’s session is expected to see heightened diplomatic attention on Palestine.

Reports suggest France, Canada and Belgium, among other Western countries, are preparing to recognise Palestine as an independent state. In a controversial move, the US has cancelled the visa of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, effectively preventing him from attending.

PM Modi had last visited the US in February, meeting President Trump. But ties have since cooled amid tensions over India’s Russian energy purchases, with Washington slapping a 50% tariff on Indian goods.

The UN has clarified that the speakers’ list remains provisional and could change before the session begins on September 23.