Foreign relations of Nepal
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. Nepal maintains a policy of non-alignment and pursues friendly relations with a wide range of countries. Due to its strategic location between two regional giants, China and India, Nepal’s foreign policy is largely centered on maintaining balanced and peaceful ties with both neighbors while safeguarding its sovereignty and independence. Nepal is a member of various international organizations, including the United Nations, the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation SAARC, and the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation BIMSTEC. The country actively participates in regional cooperation efforts and seeks to enhance economic, cultural, and diplomatic exchanges with countries worldwide. Nepal’s foreign relations also emphasize development assistance, trade partnerships, and promoting peace and stability in South Asia.
Overview
[edit | edit source]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."[1]
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.[2]: 215 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.[3] 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.[4]
International disputes
[edit | edit source]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. As of 2017[update], Nepal has border disputes with India at Lipulekh and Kalapani between Darchula district and Uttarakhand, and at Susta bordering Bihar's Nawalpur district.[5] 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
[edit | edit source]Nepal has been a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO) since 23 April 2004[6] and on 24 January 2017 became the 108th WTO member to ratify the WTO's Trade Facilitation Agreement.[7]
Diplomatic relations
[edit | edit source]List of countries which Nepal maintains diplomatic relations with:
Bilateral relations
[edit | edit source]Afghanistan
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Austria
[edit | edit source]Bangladesh
[edit | edit source]Nepal welcomed Bangladesh's independence on 16 January 1972.[17] 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.[18]
Bhutan
[edit | edit source]Relations with Bhutan have been strained since 1992 over the nationality and possible repatriation of refugees from Bhutan.[19]
Canada
[edit | edit source]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.[20]
China
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Nepal formally established relations with the People's Republic of China on 1 August 1955.[21] The two countries share 1414 kilometers long border in the Himalayan range along the northern side of Nepal.[21] Nepal has established its embassy in Beijing, opened consulates general in Lhasa, Hong Kong and Guangzhou and appointed an honorary consul in Shanghai.[21]
Nepal's relations with China have grown closer following China's Belt and Road Initiative.[2]: 215
Denmark
[edit | edit source]European Union
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France
[edit | edit source]Nepal and the French Republic entered into diplomatic relations on 20 April 1949.[22] 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.[22] Food aid and the counterpart funds that it generated have been the main form of aid since 1991.[22] 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.[22]
Nepal and France have signed an agreement concerning Reciprocal Promotion and Protection of Investment in 1983.[22] The major areas of French investment are hotels, restaurants, medicine, aluminium windows and doors, vehicle body building sectors.[22] Alcatelhad became the leading supplier of the Nepal Telecommunication Corporation, with 200,000 lines installed, and fibre optic cables.[22] Cegelec secured a 24 million dollars contract in respect of the construction of Kali Gandaki hydroelectric project.[22]
The Government of Nepal awarded a contract to Oberthur Technologies of France in 2010, for printing, supply, and delivery of Machine Readable Passports.[22] 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.[22]
India
[edit | edit source]From 23 September 2015 to February 2016, India imposed an unofficial blockade on Nepal in protest against amendments to Nepal's constitution.[23][24]
Indonesia
[edit | edit source]Israel
[edit | edit source]
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.[25]
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.[26]
Japan
[edit | edit source]Nepal-Japan relations date back to the late eighteenth century.[27] The relationship became formal with the establishment of diplomatic relations on 1 September 1956.[27] 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.[28][29]
Japan is the 2nd most preferred destination for abroad study to the Nepali students.[27]
Malaysia
[edit | edit source]Malaysia has an embassy in Kathmandu,[30] and Nepal has an embassy in Kuala Lumpur.[31] Both countries established diplomatic relations on 1 January 1960,[32] with bilateral relations between Malaysia and Nepal have developed from historic grounds.[33]
Mexico
[edit | edit source]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.[34]
- Nepal is accredited to Mexico from its embassy in Washington, D.C., United States and maintains an honorary consulate in Mexico City.[35]
Norway
[edit | edit source]Diplomatic relations were established on 26 January 1973. Norway established an embassy in Kathmandu in 2000.[36][37] Norway's aid to Nepal was around 32 million USD in 2017. Norwegian aid prioritizes education, good governance and energy.[38]
In 2008, Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg and Minister of the Environment and International Development Erik Solheim visited Nepal.[39] In 2009, Prime Minister Prachanda visited Norway.[40] In May 2008, a small bomb exploded outside the Norwegian embassy in Kathmandu. No one was injured.[41][42]
Pakistan
[edit | edit source]The bilateral relations between Nepal and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan were fully established between 1962 and 1963.[43]
Russia
[edit | edit source]Serbia
[edit | edit source]- A number of bilateral agreements have been concluded and are in force between both countries.[44]
Spain
[edit | edit source]South Korea
[edit | edit source]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[45] the Korean government provided grant aid worth 10 million US dollars to assist with Nepal's recovery and reconstruction efforts.[46]
Turkey
[edit | edit source]United Kingdom
[edit | edit source]Nepal established diplomatic relations with the United Kingdom on 4 March 1816 with the ratification of the Treaty of Sugauli.[9][10]
- Nepal maintains an embassy in London.[47]
- The United Kingdom is accredited to Nepal through its embassy in Kathmandu.[48]
Both countries share common membership of the World Trade Organization. Bilaterally the two countries have a Development Partnership,[49] and an Investment Agreement.[50]
United States
[edit | edit source]Nepal and the United States established the diplomatic relations between them on 25 April 1947.[51]
See also
[edit | edit source]- Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Nepal)
- 1950 Indo-Nepal Treaty of Peace and Friendship
- List of diplomatic missions in Nepal
- List of diplomatic missions of Nepal
References
[edit | edit source]- ↑ "WIPO Lex, Article 34 (21), the Interim Constitution of Nepal, 2007 (2063)". www.wipo.int. Retrieved 29 July 2024.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Alfred, Gerstl (2023). "China in its Immediate Neighborhood". In Kironska, Kristina; Turscanyi, Richard Q. (eds.). Contemporary China: a New Superpower?. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-03-239508-1.
- ↑ "China increases aid, FDI significantly to Nepal". Business Standard India. 18 March 2015. Retrieved 7 October 2021.
- ↑ "India raises Nepal grant by nearly 13 percent to Rs15.87 billion". kathmandupost.com. Retrieved 23 June 2021.
- ↑ Groves, Stephen. "India and Nepal Tackle Border Disputes". The Diplomat. Retrieved 28 March 2017.
- ↑ WTO, WTO Ministerial Conference approves Nepal's membership, 11 September 2003, accessed 25 January 2017
- ↑ Nepal ratifies the Trade Facilitation Agreement, 24 January 2017
- ↑ "Bilateral Relations". Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Nepal. Retrieved 29 January 2025.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 "UK and Nepal celebrate 200 years of friendship". GOV.UK. Retrieved 30 March 2025.
...the Treaty of Segauli established formal relations between the UK and Nepal. It was ratified in March 1816...
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 "Sugauli Treaty 1816" (PDF). International Journal of History. Retrieved 30 March 2025.
- ↑ Protokol der 13. sitzung des Schweizerischen Bundesrates (PDF) (in French). 19 February 1957. p. 388. Retrieved 2 January 2025.
- ↑ Petruf, Pavol. Československá zahraničná politika 1945 – 1992 (in Slovak). pp. 99–119.
- ↑ "Nepal – Greece Relations". Ministry of Foreign Affairs Nepal. Archived from the original on 8 February 2025. Retrieved 10 June 2025.
- ↑ "Nepal – Luxembourg Relations". Ministry of Foreign Affairs Nepal. Archived from the original on 14 February 2025. Retrieved 10 June 2025.
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 15.4 15.5 "Diplomatic relations between Nepal and ..." United Nations Digital Library. Retrieved 9 June 2025.
- ↑ "Rapport Politique Extérieure 2012 DRE" (PDF). Government of Monaco (in French). p. 8. Retrieved 10 June 2025.
- ↑ "Bangladesh Gains in Favor". Sarasota, Florida, US. United Press International. 17 January 1972.
- ↑ "Nepal And Bangladesh, A Strong Relationship". Retrieved 21 February 2015.
- ↑ http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/profiles/Nepal.pdf This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ↑ Pandey, Lekhanath (26 June 2016). "Nepal seeks answers from Canada on Kabul suicide bombing attack". The Himalayan Times. Retrieved 21 August 2016.
- ↑ 21.0 21.1 21.2 "Nepal-China Relations - Ministry of Foreign Affairs Nepal MOFA". mofa.gov.np. Archived from the original on 28 April 2022. Retrieved 5 May 2022.
- ↑ 22.00 22.01 22.02 22.03 22.04 22.05 22.06 22.07 22.08 22.09 "Nepal - France Relations - Ministry of Foreign Affairs Nepal MOFA". mofa.gov.np. Archived from the original on 5 May 2022. Retrieved 5 May 2022.
- ↑ "Crisis on Nepal-India border as blockade continues". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 3 August 2025.
- ↑ "Front regrets failed blockade". Nepali Times. 4 February 2016.
- ↑ Visit to Israel of Honorable Mrs. Sahana Pradhan, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Nepal Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- ↑ Abadi, Jacob. Israel's Quest for Recognition and Acceptance in Asia: Garrison State Diplomacy, 2004. Page 318.
- ↑ 27.0 27.1 27.2 "Nepal-Japan Relations - Ministry of Foreign Affairs Nepal MOFA". mofa.gov.np. Retrieved 5 May 2022.
- ↑ Anbarasan, Ethirajan (22 September 2004). "Analysis: India's Security Council seat bid". BBC News. Retrieved 2 April 2010.
- ↑ "Japan writes off Nepalese debt". BBC News. 12 October 2004. Retrieved 2 April 2010.
- ↑ "Official Website of Embassy of Malaysia, Kathmandu". Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Malaysia. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
- ↑ "Embassy of Nepal". Embassy of Nepal, Kuala Lumpur. Archived from the original on 1 February 2014. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
- ↑ "Nepal-Malaysia Relationship". Embassy of Nepal, Kuala Lumpur. Archived from the original on 1 February 2014. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
- ↑ "Bilateral Relations (Nepal-Malaysia)". Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nepal. Archived from the original on 1 February 2014. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
- ↑ "Embassy of Mexico in India".
- ↑ "Embassy of Nepal in the United States".
- ↑ "Norwegian Development Cooperation with Nepal (Norway - the official site in Nepal)". Archived from the original on 6 September 2009. Retrieved 4 July 2009.
- ↑ "Norwegian Embassy in Nepal". Archived from the original on 3 May 2009. Retrieved 4 July 2009.
- ↑ "Development Cooperation". Norgesportalen. Retrieved 6 June 2019.
- ↑ Nepal's Prime Minister visits Norway Archived 5 September 2009 at the Wayback Machine 10 April 2009
- ↑ "Nepali PM to leave for Europe _English_Xinhua". Archived from the original on 24 December 2016. Retrieved 28 February 2017.
- ↑ "Politics/Nation". The Times Of India. 17 May 2008.
- ↑ "Nepal travel advice". Archived from the original on 4 September 2009. Retrieved 4 July 2009.
- ↑ "Nepal – Pakistan and Bangladesh". Retrieved 21 February 2015.
- ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 31 December 2016. Retrieved 30 December 2016.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- ↑ "Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Korea-Asia Pacific". www.mofa.go.kr. Archived from the original on 4 September 2015. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
- ↑ "Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Korea-Press Releases". Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 4 March 2016.
- ↑ Diplomat Magazine (1 November 2013). "Nepal". Diplomat Magazine. Archived from the original on 29 April 2017. Retrieved 19 March 2025.
- ↑ "British Embassy Kathmandu". GOV.UK. Archived from the original on 11 September 2024. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
- ↑ Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (17 July 2023). "Country and regional development partnership summaries". GOV.UK. Archived from the original on 26 May 2024. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
- ↑ "Nepal - United Kingdom BIT (1993)". UN Trade and Development. Archived from the original on 24 February 2024. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
- ↑ "Nepal - US Relations - Ministry of Foreign Affairs Nepal MOFA".
External links
[edit | edit source]- Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Nepal
- Permanent Mission of the Kingdom of Nepal to the United Nations
- https://web.archive.org/web/20090904225228/http://www.mofa.gov.np/bilateral/nepal-russia.php
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