Saturday, March 29, 2025
PM Modi Skips U.S. Visit, Jaishankar to Address UNGA Instead
Amid worsening trade tensions with Washington, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has decided not to travel to the United States this month for the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York. Instead, External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar will represent India and deliver the country’s address at the UNGA.
Reports earlier this year, particularly on July 24, indicated that India had reserved a speaking slot for Prime Minister Modi on September 26. However, this is not the first time that Modi’s name has appeared on the official speaker list only to be replaced at the last minute by the foreign minister.
The decision comes at a time when bilateral ties between New Delhi and Washington are facing significant strain. Former U.S. President Donald Trump’s new tariff policies have triggered tensions with India. Trump imposed a 25 percent tariff on India for purchasing discounted oil from Russia, a penalty that followed an earlier round of similar tariffs. On top of that, India is now required to pay a 50 percent tax to export goods to the U.S., further complicating trade relations.
Diplomatic observers had already speculated that Modi might skip the UNGA session unless there was a dramatic breakthrough in trade negotiations with Washington—an outcome that looked increasingly unlikely given the current circumstances.
In addition to representing India at the UNGA, Dr. Jaishankar will also participate in a virtual BRICS summit next week, hosted by Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. The meeting aims to formulate a joint response to U.S. trade restrictions and to coordinate strategies for overcoming barriers created by Washington’s tariff policies.
Brazil currently chairs BRICS, which now includes ten members: India, China, Russia, South Africa, Brazil, Indonesia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates, among others. The bloc is expected to present a unified stance on global trade disruptions caused by unilateral tariff actions.
With Modi’s absence from the UNGA, attention will now turn to Jaishankar’s speech, which is likely to highlight India’s concerns over global trade imbalances while reinforcing its commitment to multilateralism and strategic partnerships beyond Washington.
