Prime Minister Narendra Modi will not address the annual United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) debate, later this month. This update comes following the release of a revised provisional list of speakers issued by the UN, which now lists External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar as India’s representative for the high-level debate.
Modi to Attend Key Events in New York
PM Modi is still scheduled to travel to New York this month to participate in key events. He will address a major community gathering at the 16,000-seater Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Long Island on September 22. In addition, the Prime Minister will deliver remarks at the UN’s high-profile “Summit of the Future,” scheduled to take place on September 22 and 23 at the UN headquarters.
The UN’s provisional list, published in July, had initially indicated that Modi would be addressing the General Debate of the 79th session on September 26. However, the revised list, issued on Friday, confirms that External Affairs Minister Jaishankar will now address the General Debate on India’s behalf on September 28.
Revised Speaker List Reflects Diplomatic Adjustments
The changes in the speaker schedule were noted in an official UN document. A note signed by Movses Abelian, the Under Secretary General for General Assembly and Conference Management, stated that the revised list takes into account various shifts in the level of representation among UN member states. “The revised list of speakers has been prepared by taking into account the changes in the level of representation (upgrades and downgrades) and reflects exchanges among Member States,” the note read.
The General Debate for the 79th UNGA session will take place from September 24 to 30. As per tradition, Brazil will kick off the debate on September 24, followed by the United States, with President Joe Biden expected to deliver a major address to global leaders. This will likely be Biden’s final address before the U.S. heads into the presidential election season this November.
Modi’s Recent Engagements with the UN
Modi, who was sworn in for an unprecedented third term as India’s Prime Minister in June, last addressed the UNGA in 2021. More recently, in June 2023, he visited the UN headquarters to lead the International Yoga Day celebrations, which were held on the North Lawn of the world body’s headquarters. Following the Yoga Day event, Modi traveled to Washington, D.C. for a State Visit hosted by President Biden.
Key Highlights of the 79th UNGA Session
The 79th session of the UNGA promises to be an eventful one, with world leaders convening to discuss major global challenges. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres will present his report ahead of the General Debate, setting the tone for the discussions that will follow. The President of the 79th session of the General Assembly will also address the delegates before the debate begins.
A notable feature of this year’s UNGA will be the “Summit of the Future,” convened by Guterres. Action days for the summit are slated for September 20 and 21, with the primary summit scheduled for September 22 and 23. Leaders from around the world will gather at the UN to discuss and adopt the Pact for the Future, a comprehensive global framework aimed at securing a sustainable and prosperous future.
This Pact for the Future will include significant annexes, such as a Global Digital Compact and a Declaration on Future Generations, aiming to address modern challenges while safeguarding future interests. “The summit is a high-level event, bringing world leaders together to forge a new international consensus on how we deliver a better present and safeguard the future,” the UN noted in its official statement.
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