Nepal’s Foreign Policy: principles, practice and priorities

Constructs such as ‘buffer state’ or ‘vibrant bridge’ have limited utility beyond seminar rooms.

An abiding faith in the purposes and principles of the United Nations (UN) Charter remains a cornerstone of Nepal’s foreign policy. Maintaining relations with traditional friends, donor-partners and Gulf countries, and advancing cooperation with regional organisations for peace and economic progress, are equally important. Recently, however, renewing, reinforcing and reorienting relations with our immediate neighbours—India and China—has become the foremost preoccupation. Their growing economic and military might makes this inevitable. This shift should not be misread as deprioritising long-standing partners. Nepal cannot afford to do so and must continue to accord them due priority.