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Foreign Policy and Geopolitics of Nepal

Prof. Dr. Jaya Raj Acharya Former Ambassador to the UN

Nepal’s Geopolitical situation

Geography and Topography

Google Map: The Himalayan Divide

Three Objectives of Foreign Policy

1. Protection of independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity

2. Promotion of Social and economic development

3. Resistance against external penetration in internal affairs.

Determinants of Foreign Policyas a means of promoting national interest

•Geography•History•Language•Religion and Culture•Economic strength •Population and resources

•Trade interests and linkages

•Military strength•Political Leadership •Changing international situation

1. The Stage of National Unification

1. Military Buildup2. Defensive and Offensive

tactics3. Yam between the boulders4. Balanced friendship and

peaceful relations with big powers

5. Economic development

Anglo- Nepal War 1814-15

Was is an offensive war? Bhimsen Thapa

2. The Stage of Isolationism: Cautious Friendship with British India

• Janga Bahadur Rana visited Britain in 1950

• Helped the British suppress the Police Mutiny in 1857

• Got Naya Muluk back to Nepal in 1860.

• The Rana regime kept the country in isolation (1846-1951).

Nepal’s Diplomatic Relations 1815-1959

Diplomatic relations only with 10 countries during the 144 years

UK (1815), USA (1947), India (1947), France (1949), China (1955), Russia (1956), Japan (1956), Sri Lanka (1957), Egypt (1957), Germany (1958).

3. Expansion of Foreign Relations 1959-1960

• Austria (15 August 1959), Italy (31 August, 1959), Serbia (7 October 1959) Switzerland (10 November, 1959), Poland (25 November 1959), Malaysia (1 January, 1960), Philippines (12 February, 1960), Australia (15 February, 1960), Myanmar (19 March, 1960), Pakistan (20 March, 1960), The Netherlands (2 April, 1960), Laos (20 May, 1960), Israel (1 June 1960), Sweden (10 June, 1960), Thailand (30 November, 1960), and Indonesia (25 December, 1960).

4. Balancing in Foreign Relations

• King Mahendra tried to balance Nepal’s relations with India and China and USA and USSR.

• It was a quadrangular balance complicated by the fact that India was closer to USSR and China was closer to USA.

5. Nepal as a Zone of Peace (ZOP)

• The 1950 Treaty of Peace and Friendship between Nepal and India implied Nepal as a sphere of influence of India.

• The ZOP Proposal of 1975 attempted to neutralize this framework of relationship. Constitutionally Guiding Principle of Nepal’s Foreign Policy

• But it became a permanent irritant in Nepal-India relations

Foreign Policies of post-1990? •Non-alignment •Adherence to the Principles of Panchasheel

•Adherence to the principles of UN Charter

•Participation in SAARC, BIMSTEC etc.

No Success in Foreign Policy without economic development

Foreign Policy is the extension

of Domestic Policy

Difficult terrain on the Himalayan border

Still difficult although not impossible to build a road through the mountains

Transportation in the South is easier

Free movement of People across the border

Chinese interest in OBORRoad down to Patna through Nepal

Railroad between China and Nepal?

Can we build such network?What is our vision? How can we benefit?

Nepal’s Trade Deficit Rs. 1000 Billion

•Trade Deficit with India: 750 Billion •Trade Deficit with China 125 Billion

Question:Can Nepal sustain itself with Remittance and Foreign Aid?

What is the strategy to address such trade deficit?

Everyone including the NA should work for development

बाँ�ा सेतु छप� कोस पिहला िदन् दोसरा िदन् असीकोस् चौरािस स�ा तृतीय िदनमा क�र् सबैले कसी ।कोस् अ�ािस स�ा चतुथ� िदनमा बाँकी बया�� कोस्पाँचौं दीनमहाँ स�ा नजर भो िन�ेन एक् काँिहँ दोस् ।

भानुभ�कृत भाषारामायण, यु�का��ोक ८२ ।

गोरखापत्र २०२५ फागुन ९ गते

पृ�ी राजमाग�कोिनमा�ण-प्रगित

श्री ५ को सरकार र गणत� चीन सरकारको संयु� सहयोगमा िनमा�ण भइरहेको पृ�ीराजमाग� (काठमाडौ-ंपोखरा) को ६० िकलोिमटर ख� ट�क चल्नस�े भएको छ ।

सात भागमा िवभािजत गरी काम भइरहेको १७६ िकलोिमटर लामो उ� राजमाग�को ११७िकलोिमटर ख�मा हाल १६ हजार कामदारह�ले काम ग�ररहेका छन् ।

गोरखापत्र पृ. १ । िमित २०२५ साल फागुन ९ गते ।

िवकासका लािग के यु��रमाआज पिन काम होला ?

Nepal may not exist without development

Thank you