Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to represent India at the upcoming annual high-level session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in September, according to a provisional list of speakers released by the United Nations.
The 80th session of the UNGA will formally open on September 9 at the UN headquarters in New York. The highlight of the session, the high-level General Debate, will take place from September 23 to 29. World leaders, foreign ministers, and high-level envoys from across the globe are scheduled to address the gathering during this week, setting out their national and global priorities on pressing issues ranging from security and development to climate change and international cooperation.
As per long-standing UN tradition, Brazil will deliver the first address of the General Debate on September 23, a custom dating back to the early years of the organisation. The United States, as the host country, will follow immediately after. This year, U.S. President Donald Trump is slated to speak on the opening day, marking his first address to the UNGA since returning to the White House for his second term. His remarks will be closely watched for signals on U.S. foreign policy priorities, especially on trade, security alliances, and multilateral engagement.
Prime Minister Modi’s speech will be one of the most anticipated interventions during the week, with expectations that he will highlight India’s positions on key global challenges. These could include the need for comprehensive UN reforms, climate action, sustainable development goals, counter-terrorism measures, and equitable access to technology and resources for the Global South. Modi is also likely to underline India’s growing role as a bridge between developed and developing nations and may reference New Delhi’s diplomatic efforts on issues such as energy security, global health preparedness, and digital cooperation.
The session comes at a time of heightened global uncertainty, with ongoing geopolitical tensions, economic slowdowns, and the urgent push to meet the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. The debate will provide leaders with a platform to reaffirm multilateralism and outline strategies for collective action.
India’s participation this year is expected to be particularly significant given its continued advocacy for reforms to the UN Security Council, where it has long sought a permanent seat. Modi’s address may also reference India’s role in peacekeeping operations, disaster relief, and humanitarian aid. Additionally, with the recent rise in climate-related disasters, he may call for stronger global commitments on climate finance and technology transfer to help developing nations adapt to changing environmental realities.
The UNGA’s General Debate is one of the most visible events in international diplomacy, offering a rare opportunity for leaders to speak directly to a global audience and to each other, outside the framework of formal negotiations. The addresses delivered often set the tone for bilateral and multilateral engagements on the sidelines of the session.
Final confirmation of the speaking order will come closer to the session’s start, but the provisional list already sets the stage for a week of high-profile diplomacy in New York.
