Foreign relations of Nepal

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Though the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) is the government agency responsible for conducting the foreign relations of Nepal, historically, it has been the Office of the Prime Minister (PMO) that has exercised the authority to formulate the country's foreign policies. As a landlocked country wedged between two larger and far stronger powers, Nepal has tried to maintain good relations with both of its neighbors, People's Republic of China and Republic of India.[1] However, the relationship between Nepal and India was significantly hampered by the 2015 Nepal blockade when the Government of Nepal accused India of mimicking "Russia-Ukraine" tactics by using ethnically Indian residents of Nepal to cause unrest along Nepal's southern border. India denied the allegations.[2] For the most part though, Nepal has traditionally maintained a non-aligned policy and enjoys friendly relations with its neighboring countries and almost all the major countries of the world.

Overview

Constitutionally, Nepal's foreign policy is to be guided by "the principles of the United Nations Charter, nonalignment, Panchsheel (five principles of peaceful coexistence), international law and the value of world peace."[3]

Nepal's most substantive international relations are perhaps with international economic institutions such as the Asian Development Bank, the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, and the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation. Nepal also has strong bilateral relations with major providers of economic and military aid, such as France, Germany, Japan, South Korea, Switzerland, the United States, and particularly the United Kingdom, with whom military ties date back to the nineteenth century. The country's external relations are managed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Prime Minister's Office.

In its foreign policy, Nepal generally seeks to balance its relations with its large neighbors India and China in order to avoid dependency on either one.[4]Template:Rp Nepal's relation with China has seen a major upswing in the recent years with China now becoming Nepal's top 5 aid donor to Nepal.[5] In 2021, Indian government also announced increments of aid to Nepal by nearly 13% to $130 million, to counter China's growing footprint in Nepal. However, data on the actual disbursement of aid by the Indian government remains unclear.[6]

International disputes

Nepal joined the UN in 1955. The Nepalese map filed at the UN in 1955 was accepted without any disputes by any other UN member. Both India and China without any objections, accepted the map of Nepal filed at the UN in 1955 while Nepal's third neighbor, Kingdom of Sikkim was not a member of the UN.

However, with degradation of relations between India and China during late 1950s, Indian government initiated a 'Forward Policy' along its northern frontiers which resulted in Indian military outposts being built in all unmanned areas along India's northern border. Successive Nepali government's from 1990 onwards, have continued their objection to Indian occupation of certain Nepali territories under the guise of India's 'Forward Policy'. A joint border commission continues to work on resolving the issue of removal of Indian military outpost from Nepal's Kalapani territory. Template:As of, Nepal has border disputes with India at Lipulekh and Kalapani between Darchula district and Uttarakhand, and at Susta bordering Bihar's Nawalpur district.[7] In 2018, EPG (Eminent Persons Group), a joint committee between Nepal and India finished a report on the disputed territories between these two countries. The report is yet to be submitted to the head of governments of both countries.

International trade

Nepal has been a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO) since 11 September 2003[8] and on 24 January 2017 became the 108th WTO member to ratify the WTO's Trade Facilitation Agreement.[9]

Diplomatic relations

List of countries which Nepal maintains diplomatic relations with:

File:Diplomatic relations of Nepal.svg
# Country Date[10]
1 Template:Country data United Kingdom 4 March 1816[11][12]
2 Template:Country data United States Template:DTS
3 Template:Country data India Template:DTS
4 Template:Country data France Template:DTS
5 Template:Country data China Template:DTS
6 Template:Country data Russia Template:DTS
7 Template:Country data Japan Template:DTS
8 Template:Country data Switzerland Template:Dts[13]
9 Template:Country data Sri Lanka Template:DTS
10 Template:Country data Egypt Template:DTS
11 Template:Country data Germany Template:DTS
12 Template:Country data Austria Template:DTS
13 Template:Country data Italy Template:DTS
14 Template:Country data Serbia Template:DTS
15 Template:Country data Poland Template:DTS
16 Template:Country data Thailand Template:DTS
17 Template:Country data Czech Republic Template:Dts[14]
18 Template:Country data Malaysia Template:DTS
19 Template:Country data Philippines Template:DTS
20 Template:Country data Australia Template:DTS
21 Template:Country data Myanmar Template:DTS
22 Template:Country data Pakistan Template:DTS
23 Template:Country data Netherlands Template:DTS
24 Template:Country data Laos Template:DTS
25 Template:Country data Israel Template:DTS
26 Template:Country data Sweden Template:DTS
27 Template:Country data Indonesia Template:DTS
28 Template:Country data Mongolia Template:DTS
29 Template:Country data Hungary Template:DTS
30 Template:Country data New Zealand Template:DTS
31 Template:Country data Afghanistan Template:DTS
32 Template:Country data Argentina Template:DTS
33 Template:Country data Chile Template:DTS
34 Template:Country data Greece Template:DTS
35 Template:Country data Turkey Template:DTS
36 Template:Country data Lebanon Template:DTS
37 Template:Country data Belgium Template:DTS
38 Template:Country data Iran Template:DTS
39 Template:Country data Canada Template:DTS
40 Template:Country data Jordan Template:DTS
41 Template:Country data Denmark Template:DTS
42 Template:Country data Bulgaria Template:DTS
43 Template:Country data Romania Template:DTS
44 Template:Country data Algeria Template:DTS
45 Template:Country data Spain Template:DTS
46 Template:Country data Iraq Template:DTS
47 Template:Country data Singapore Template:DTS
48 Template:Country data Sudan Template:DTS
49 Template:Country data Syria Template:DTS
50 Template:Country data Ethiopia Template:DTS
51 Template:Country data Kuwait Template:DTS
52 Template:Country data Bangladesh Template:DTS
53 Template:Country data Albania Template:DTS
54 Template:Country data Norway Template:DTS
55 Template:Country data North Korea Template:DTS
56 Template:Country data South Korea Template:DTS
57 Template:Country data Finland Template:DTS
58 Template:Country data Tanzania Template:DTS
59 Template:Country data Morocco Template:DTS
60 Template:Country data Cuba Template:DTS
61 Template:Country data Cambodia Template:DTS
62 Template:Country data Vietnam Template:DTS
63 Template:Country data Kenya Template:DTS
64 Template:Country data Mexico Template:DTS
65 Template:Country data Luxembourg Template:DTS
66 Template:Country data Nigeria Template:DTS
67 Template:Country data Libya Template:DTS
68 Template:Country data Peru Template:DTS
69 Template:Country data Brazil Template:DTS
70 Template:Country data Portugal Template:DTS
71 Template:Country data Bahrain Template:DTS
72 Template:Country data Oman Template:DTS
73 Template:Country data Qatar Template:DTS
74 Template:Country data United Arab Emirates Template:DTS
75 Template:Country data Saudi Arabia Template:DTS
76 Template:Country data Costa Rica Template:DTS
77 Template:Country data Maldives Template:DTS
78 Template:Country data Cyprus Template:DTS
79 Template:Country data Mauritius Template:DTS
80 Template:Country data Iceland Template:DTS
81 Template:Country data Bhutan Template:DTS
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82 Template:Country data Malta Template:DTS
83 Template:Country data Brunei Template:DTS
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99 Template:Country data Ukraine Template:DTS
100 Template:Country data Armenia Template:DTS
101 Template:Country data Kyrgyzstan Template:DTS
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103 Template:Country data Moldova Template:DTS
104 Template:Country data Slovakia Template:DTS
105 Template:Country data Guyana Template:DTS
106 Template:Country data South Africa Template:DTS
107 Template:Country data Azerbaijan Template:DTS
108 Template:Country data Seychelles Template:DTS
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110 Template:Country data North Macedonia Template:DTS
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113 Template:Country data Bosnia and Herzegovina Template:DTS
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115 Template:Country data San Marino Template:DTS
116 Template:Country data Tajikistan Template:DTS
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118 Template:Country data Turkmenistan Template:DTS
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136 Template:Country data Mauritania Template:DTS
137 Template:Country data Tuvalu Template:DTS
138 Template:Country data Samoa Template:DTS
139 Template:Country data Papua New Guinea Template:DTS
140 Template:Country data Kazakhstan Template:DTS
141 Template:Country data Jamaica Template:DTS
142 Template:Country data Guinea Template:DTS
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148 Template:Country data Cape Verde Template:DTS
149 Template:Country data Liberia Template:DTS
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151 Template:Country data Eritrea Template:DTS
152 Template:Country data Bahamas Template:DTS
153 Template:Country data Liechtenstein Template:DTS
154 Template:Country data Angola Template:DTS
155 Template:Country data Burkina Faso Template:DTS
156 Template:Country data Benin Template:DTS
157 Template:Country data Uzbekistan Template:DTS
158 Template:Country data Saint Kitts and Nevis Template:DTS
159 Template:Country data Burundi Template:DTS
160 Template:Country data Rwanda Template:DTS
161 Template:Country data Madagascar Template:DTS
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172 Template:Country data Timor-Leste Template:DTS
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174 Template:Country data South Sudan Template:DTS
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176 Template:Country data Trinidad and Tobago Template:DTS
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178 Template:Country data Nauru Template:DTS
179 Template:Country data Cameroon Template:DTS
180 Template:Country data Marshall Islands Template:DTS
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182 Template:Country data Kiribati Template:Dts[15]

Bilateral relations

Afghanistan

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Austria

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Bangladesh

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Nepal welcomed Bangladesh's independence on 16 January 1972.[16] The turning point for the two nations occurred in April 1976, when the two nations signed, a four-point agreement on technical cooperation, trade, transit and civil aviation. They both seek cooperation in the fields of power generation and development of water resources. In 1986, relations further improved when Bangladesh insisted Nepal should be included on a deal regarding the distribution of water from the Ganges River. Also recently Nepal and Bangladesh had signed MOU's that Nepal would sell 10,000 MW of electricity to Bangladesh once its larger projects are completed.[17]

Bhutan

Template:FlagiconTemplate:Flagicon Script error: No such module "Labelled list hatnote". Relations with Bhutan have been strained since 1992 over the nationality and possible repatriation of refugees from Bhutan.[18]

Canada

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Many Nepalese politicians and government officials criticized Canadian diplomats in the aftermath of the Kabul attack on Canadian Embassy guards in which the majority of victims were Nepalese citizens. Members of Parliament were among those who were critical of the way that Canada treated its security contractors at the embassy, leading to meetings in Ottawa between Nepalese and Canadian diplomats, including ambassador Nadir Patel.[19]

China

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Nepal formally established relations with the People's Republic of China on August 1, 1955.[20] The two countries share 1414 kilometers long border in the Himalayan range along the northern side of Nepal.[20] Nepal has established its embassy in Beijing, opened consulates general in Lhasa, Hong Kong and Guangzhou and appointed an honorary consul in Shanghai.[20]

Nepal's relations with China have grown closer following China's Belt and Road Initiative.[4]Template:Rp

Denmark

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See Denmark–Nepal relations.

European Union

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France

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Nepal and the French Republic entered into diplomatic relations on 20 April 1949.[21] Bilateral economic cooperation programme commenced in February 1981 when the two countries signed the First Protocol amounting to French Franc 50 million loan which was converted into debt in 1989.[21] Food aid and the counterpart funds that it generated have been the main form of aid since 1991.[21] Main areas of cooperation are national seismologic network, petroleum exploration, restructuring of Water Supply Corporation, the Kavre Integrated Project and Gulmi and Arghakhanchi Rural Development Project, rehabilitation of airports, 'food for work', and others.[21]

Nepal and France have signed an agreement concerning Reciprocal Promotion and Protection of Investment in 1983.[21] The major areas of French investment are hotels, restaurants, medicine, aluminium windows and doors, vehicle body building sectors.[21] Alcatelhad became the leading supplier of the Nepal Telecommunication Corporation, with 200,000 lines installed, and fibre optic cables.[21] Cegelec secured a 24 million dollars contract in respect of the construction of Kali Gandaki hydroelectric project.[21]

The Government of Nepal awarded a contract to Oberthur Technologies of France in 2010, for printing, supply, and delivery of Machine Readable Passports.[21] A significant number of French tourists (24,097 in 2014, 16, 405 in 2015, and, 20,863 in 2016) arrive in Nepal from France each year.[21]

India

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Indonesia

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Israel

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File:King of Nepal 1958.jpg
King Mahendra of Nepal (second from left) in a 1958 visit to Israel's Weizmann Institute of Science.

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Nepal was the first and until recently the only nation in South and Central Asia to establish diplomatic ties with Israel. The bilateral relation between the two countries has been good. Traditionally, Nepal votes in favor of Israel at the UN and abstains from resolution opposed by the Israeli government barring few exceptions. Israel-Nepal relations are based on mutual security concerns.[22]

Bishweshwar Prasad Koirala, Prime Minister of Nepal from 1959 to 1960, had a strongly pro-Israel foreign policy. King Mahendra visited Israel in 1963 and maintained Koirala's special relationship.[23]

Japan

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Nepal-Japan relations date back to the late eighteenth century.[24] The relationship became formal with the establishment of diplomatic relations on 1 September 1956.[24] The Embassy of Nepal was established in Tokyo in 1965 and Japan established its embassy in Kathmandu in 1967. Nepal has honorary consulates in Osaka and Fukuoka. Japan is one of the largest aid donors to Nepal.[25][26]

Japan is the 2nd most preferred destination for abroad study to the Nepali students.[24]

Malaysia

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Malaysia has an embassy in Kathmandu,[27] and Nepal has an embassy in Kuala Lumpur.[28] Both countries established diplomatic relations on 1 January 1960,[29] with bilateral relations between Malaysia and Nepal have developed from historic grounds.[30]

Mexico

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Both nations established diplomatic relations in 1975.

  • Mexico is accredited to Nepal from its embassy in New Delhi, India and maintains an honorary consulate in Kathmandu.[31]
  • Nepal is accredited to Mexico from its embassy in Washington, D.C., United States and maintains an honorary consulate in Mexico City.[32]

Norway

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Diplomatic relations were established on 26 January 1973. Norway established an embassy in Kathmandu in 2000.[33][34] Norway's aid to Nepal was around 32 million USD in 2017. Norwegian aid prioritizes education, good governance and energy.[35]

In 2008, Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg and Minister of the Environment and International Development Erik Solheim visited Nepal.[36] In 2009, Prime Minister Prachanda visited Norway.[37] In May 2008, a small bomb exploded outside the Norwegian embassy in Kathmandu. No one was injured.[38][39]

Pakistan

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The bilateral relations between Nepal and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan were fully established between 1962 and 1963.[40]

Russia

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Serbia

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  • A number of bilateral agreements have been concluded and are in force between both countries.[41]

Spain

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South Korea

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In addition to the in-kind and monetary donations and emergency relief workers sent by the government of the Republic of Korea immediately after the latest earthquake in Nepal[42] the Korean government provided grant aid worth 10 million US dollars to assist with Nepal's recovery and reconstruction efforts.[43]

Turkey

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United Kingdom

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Nepal established diplomatic relations with the United Kingdom on 4 March 1816 with the ratification of the Treaty of Sugauli.[11][12]

  • Nepal maintains an embassy in London.[44]
  • The United Kingdom is accredited to Nepal through its embassy in Kathmandu.[45]

Both countries share common membership of the World Trade Organization. Bilaterally the two countries have a Development Partnership,[46] and an Investment Agreement.[47]

United States

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Nepal and the United States established the diplomatic relations between them on 25 April 1947.[48]

File:Embassy of Nepal.JPG
Embassy of Nepal in Washington, D.C.

See also

References

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External links

Template:Foreign relations of Asia Template:Foreign relations of Nepal

  1. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  2. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  3. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  4. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  5. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  6. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  7. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  8. ↑ WTO, WTO Ministerial Conference approves Nepal's membership, 11 September 2003, accessed 25 January 2017
  9. ↑ Nepal ratifies the Trade Facilitation Agreement, 24 January 2017
  10. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  11. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  12. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  13. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  14. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  15. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  16. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  17. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  18. ↑ http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/profiles/Nepal.pdf This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  19. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  20. ↑ a b c Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  21. ↑ a b c d e f g h i j Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  22. ↑ Visit to Israel of Honorable Mrs. Sahana Pradhan, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Nepal Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs
  23. ↑ Abadi, Jacob. Israel's Quest for Recognition and Acceptance in Asia: Garrison State Diplomacy, 2004. Page 318.
  24. ↑ a b c Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  25. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  26. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  27. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  28. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  29. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  30. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  31. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  32. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  33. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  34. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  35. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  36. ↑ Nepal's Prime Minister visits Norway April 10, 2009
  37. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  38. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  39. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  40. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  41. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  42. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  43. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  44. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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  46. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  47. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  48. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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