Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to meet US President Donald Trump next month during a potential visit to the United States for the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), the Indian Express reported on Wednesday, citing unnamed sources.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs has not confirmed the visit, and a spokesperson did not respond to requests for comment. An Indian official familiar with the planning said no final decision had been made, noting that the provisional list of speakers at the UNGA’s General Debate — which includes Modi on September 26 — is subject to revisions.
“The list will go through changes,” the official said. “It has not been decided yet if the Prime Minister will attend.”
The 78th session of the UN General Assembly will open on September 9 in New York, with the high-level debate involving heads of state and government scheduled from September 23 to 29. While the official purpose of Modi’s potential visit would be to address the UN gathering, the Indian Express report suggests a key aim would be to hold bilateral talks with Trump. The discussions would likely focus on trade and tariff disputes that have strained relations between New Delhi and Washington over the past year. Tensions rose after the United States withdrew India’s preferential trade status under the Generalized System of Preferences in 2019, citing lack of reciprocal market access. India responded with retaliatory tariffs on certain US goods. While both sides have sought to keep strategic and defence cooperation unaffected, trade remains a sticking point.
If the meeting materialises, it would come amid a busy diplomatic season for both leaders. Trump is heading into a re-election campaign, while Modi is keen to project India’s role as a rising global player and maintain strong US ties in the face of China’s growing influence.
Modi and Trump last met in Osaka, Japan, on the sidelines of the G20 summit, where they pledged to resolve trade issues “soon.” Whether next month’s UNGA sidelines will offer that breakthrough remains uncertain.
