Despite the ongoing trade war between India and the United States, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to visit New York next month to address the annual high-level session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
Modi’s name has been figured in the provisional list of speakers issued by the UN, reported PTI news agency.
The 80th session begins on September 9, while the General Debate session is from September 23 to September 29. Brazil is the traditional first speaker of the session, followed by the US. This will be US President Donald Trump’s first address at the UNGA during his second term.
As per the UN notification, Modi will address the session on the morning of September 26. Leaders of Israel, China, Pakistan, and Bangladesh are also scheduled to address the session on the same day.
It is not immediately clear whether Modi will hold any bilateral meetings in the US. An Indian Express report, however, claimed that a key objective of the prime minister’s visit will be to meet Trump, iron out the issues on trade and arrive at a common ground on tariffs.
The relation between India and the US has witnessed a dramatic nosedive over the fortnight, with Trump imposing a 25 per cent punitive tariff on Indian imports for continuing to use Russian oil. The fresh move has taken the total levy on Indian goods to the US to 50 per cent.
In an executive order signed earlier this month, Trump cited matters of national security and foreign policy concerns, as well as other relevant trade laws, for the increase, claiming that India’s imports of Russian oil, directly or indirectly, pose an “unusual and extraordinary threat” to the United States.
India has termed the US move “unfair, unjustified and unreasonable” and said New Delhi will take all actions necessary to protect its national interests.
Modi had visited the US in February for a bilateral meeting with Trump. After their meeting, both leaders announced plans to negotiate the first tranche of a mutually beneficial, multi-sector Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) by the fall of 2025.