Jaishankar Heads to US for UNGA as Russia Sanctions Bill Weighs on Ties
S Jaishankar's US visit for the 81st UNGA High Level Week comes days after President Trump signed a Russia sanctions law that could penalise India's energy trade.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will travel to the United States for the High Level Week of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly, a visit that comes days after President Donald Trump signed a Russia sanctions Bill enabling Washington to penalise Russia's energy trading partners, including India.
The Ministry of External Affairs announced the trip on Sunday, stating that Jaishankar's address to the High Level Session is scheduled for September 26. He will also attend a range of plurilateral and bilateral meetings during his stay in New York, leaving room for the two sides to discuss the sanctions legislation.
The US House of Representatives cleared the Bill on Wednesday. New Delhi responded by saying it remains firmly committed to ensuring energy security for its 1.4 billion people, while flagging potential implications for the bilateral relationship with Washington. The MEA noted that the matter has been discussed at high levels with various US interlocutors in recent months, and that India has conveyed the adverse impact such a punitive step could have on ties.
The development lands at a delicate moment, with Delhi and Washington working to finalise a bilateral trade deal after months of negotiations.
President Trump is also expected at the UNGA session and will address world leaders on September 22, his second address to the assembly in his current term. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is expected to be present as well.
Jaishankar is listed to speak during the afternoon session of the General Debate on September 26, according to a revised provisional roster of speakers.
The year-long 81st session is being presided over by Bangladesh Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman, elected in June to head the 193-member body. The session is unfolding against continuing geopolitical conflicts, including the US-Iran war, which has affected the Global South through rising food and fuel costs amid disruption in the Strait of Hormuz. The heads of government of Bangladesh and Nepal are scheduled to address the General Debate on September 24.