Key Points
- PM Narendra Modi is likely to travel to New York for UNGA High‑Level Week, with a 15‑minute address tentatively slated for the morning of September 26.
- US President Donald Trump is scheduled to address the UNGA on September 23, his first UNGA speech of his second term.
- A Modi-Trump bilateral is expected focusing on tariffs, Russian oil purchases, and a pathway for a trade understanding before US tariffs take full effect on August 27.
- Zelenskyy-Modi in‑person meeting is being planned on the UNGA sidelines, following recent calls with both Kyiv and Moscow.
- UNGA High‑Level Week runs September 23-29; the 80th UNGA session opens September 9 in New York.
New Delhi: UNGA 80 opens September 9, with the High‑Level General Debate scheduled for September 23-29 in New York. Provisional speaker lists indicate India’s Head of Government is slated for a morning address on September 26, while the US President is set for the opening day on September 23. The first day of the General Debate is Tuesday, September 23, following UNGA tradition with Brazil and then the US opening proceedings.
Modi-Trump: What’s on the Agenda
Both sides are preparing for a bilateral on the UNGA sidelines focused on resolving a tariff standoff after Washington announced an additional 25% tariff on most Indian imports over Russian oil purchases, on top of an earlier 25% tariff, taking duties to 50% if fully implemented from August 27. New Delhi has called the measures unjustified and signaled it will take steps to safeguard national interests, as US negotiators head to India before August 25 to keep talks on track for a first‑phase trade understanding by fall 2025.
Ukraine Track: Meetings and Messaging
A face‑to‑face meeting between PM Modi and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is being planned during UNGA following their recent call, with Delhi also engaging Moscow as global attention turns to potential movement on the conflict, including a Trump–Putin meeting slated for August 15 in Alaska.
Why This Visit Matters
The bilateral comes as friction tests India-US ties from tariff escalations and Russia‑related penalties to wider strategic signaling-while both sides maintain that long‑term convergence remains strong and negotiations are ongoing to ease near‑term pressures.
Key Dates and Logistics
- UNGA 80 opens: September 9, 2025, New York.
- High‑Level Week/General Debate: September 23–29, 2025.
- Trump UNGA address: September 23, 2025.
- Provisional slot: PM Modi’s UNGA address on the morning of September 26, 2025.
- US additional tariffs on India take effect: August 27, 2025 (executive order window before implementation).
What to Watch
- Final confirmation of India’s level of representation and exact speaking slot as the provisional schedule firms up.
- Whether a Modi–Trump meeting yields a roadmap on tariffs and the proposed first‑phase Bilateral Trade Agreement by fall 2025.
- Outcomes from US–Russia engagement and any impact on Ukraine de‑escalation discussions relevant to India’s diplomacy at UNGA.
Note: Speaker lists are provisional and subject to change as UN missions finalize accreditation and schedules in the coming weeks.
