Jaishankar To Lead India At UNGA As Modi Skips High-Stakes US Visit

• By Thetripurapost Desk, New Delhi
• Sep 06, 2025
• 638

India’s diplomatic spotlight at the 80th UN General Assembly in New York will fall on External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi almost certain to skip the event amid cooling ties with Washington.

Though India had reserved a speaking slot for Modi on September 26, sources confirm the PM is unlikely to travel unless there is a dramatic last-minute breakthrough in stalled trade negotiations with the US — one that could pave the way for a bilateral meeting with President Donald Trump. But with both sides wary of a high-stakes encounter, the scenario looks increasingly improbable.

The decision is laden with symbolism. Modi’s absence would underscore a rare moment of hesitation in India’s foreign policy playbook, as New Delhi weighs the risks of engaging Washington at a sensitive juncture. The optics are particularly stark given Trump’s recent annoyance over Modi’s refusal to detour to Washington from Canada during the G7 summit, when the US President was busy hosting Pakistan’s powerful army chief Asim Munir.

Jaishankar, meanwhile, will be India’s chief troubleshooter in New York, holding a series of bilateral meetings on the sidelines, including with Ukraine’s foreign minister Andrii Sybiha. For New Delhi, the EAM’s presence will ensure India’s voice is heard on the world stage — even as the absence of its Prime Minister fuels speculation about the next chapter in India–US ties.