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Prime Minister Narendra Modi will undertake a high-profile visit to the United States this month, participating in key international events while also engaging with the Indian diaspora. While Modi will not address the UN General Assembly (UNGA) session, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will deliver India's statement at the annual debate on September 28th.
Instead of addressing UNGA, PM Modi will participate in the UN's high-level 'Summit of the Future' on September 22nd and 23rd, aimed at exploring solutions for a better future amidst global challenges and conflicts. This summit is expected to be a significant event, bringing together world leaders to discuss and adopt a 'Pact for the Future,' encompassing a 'global digital compact' and a 'declaration on future generations.'
Modi's US visit will begin with his participation in the Quad summit on September 21st. This summit, previously thought to be held at UNGA in New York, will now take place in Delaware, specifically in the hometown of US President Joe Biden. The summit will also include Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, marking the final Quad summit for both Biden and Kishida before their respective departures from office.
India had initially proposed hosting the Quad summit on the margins of the UNGA session, but Biden's preference for Delaware, where he served as a senator for 36 years, led to the change in venue. Previously, India had considered holding the summit on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Italy, but Australia was not invited. The original plan was to host the summit during India's Republic Day celebrations in January, with Biden as the chief guest, but scheduling conflicts prevented the President's attendance.
Beyond these international engagements, PM Modi is scheduled to address a community event on September 22nd at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Long Island, New York. The event is expected to draw a large audience of the Indian diaspora, with over 24,000 members signing up to attend. Modi is also expected to engage in several bilateral meetings at the UN, including a potential meeting with Bangladesh's chief advisor Muhammad Yunus, who has expressed interest in meeting with Modi in New York.
Government sources emphasize that Modi's schedule is still being finalized, and bilateral engagements are not yet confirmed. While a provisional list of speakers for the UNGA's 79th session in July had included Modi as a speaker on September 26th, a revised list issued by the UN on Friday confirmed that Jaishankar will now address the General Debate on September 28th.
Source: EAM S Jaishankar to address UNGA meet, PM Modi to join key summit