PM Modi’s US Visit: Key Meetings and Missed Opportunities
New York: Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump announced plans to meet with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to the United States, but the anticipated meeting did not materialize.
PM Modi’s whirlwind trip lasted approximately 55 hours, filled with high-profile engagements. On Saturday, he participated in the Quad Leaders’ Summit alongside President Joe Biden, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. This crucial summit set the tone for discussions on regional security and cooperation.
The following day, Modi addressed a diaspora rally in a New York suburb, before dedicating Monday to his address at the Summit of the Future and a series of bilateral meetings with world leaders before his departure.
While Modi was busy with diplomatic engagements, Trump held a rally in North Carolina, leading to speculation about their missed opportunity to connect. The two leaders had previously expressed interest in a meeting, but scheduling conflicts ultimately prevented it.
Additionally, rumors circulated regarding a potential meeting between PM Modi and Mohammad Yunus, the de facto Prime Minister of Bangladesh, on the sidelines of the UN Summit. Reports suggested that Modi was avoiding a meeting with Yunus, but timing appeared to be a key factor. India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri clarified at a news conference, “The Prime Minister is leaving in a few minutes from now. The chief advisor of Bangladesh is not here yet, so there hasn’t been any possibility of a meeting on this occasion.”
Instead, PM Modi managed to meet with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Nepal’s Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli, and Kuwait Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah al-Khalid during his visit. On Monday, he also engaged with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Vietnamese President To Lam, alongside discussions with Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s Secretary of State, and Armenian President Nikol Pashinyan.
Overall, while the visit included significant diplomatic discussions, the absence of key meetings, particularly with Trump and Yunus, drew attention amidst Modi’s packed schedule.
