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

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

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, 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

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

List of countries which Nepal maintains diplomatic relations with:

CountryDate[8]
1United Kingdom4 March 1816[9][10]
2United States25 April 1947
3India13 June 1947
4France20 April 1949
5China1 August 1955
6Russia20 July 1956
7Japan1 September 1956
8Switzerland9 November 1956[11]
9Sri Lanka1 July 1957
10Egypt16 July 1957
11Germany4 April 1958
12Austria15 August 1959
13Italy31 August 1959
14Serbia7 October 1959
15Poland25 November 1959
16Thailand30 November 1959
17Czech Republic26 December 1959[12]
18Malaysia1 January 1960
19Greece2 February 1960[13]
20Philippines12 February 1960
21Australia15 February 1960
22Myanmar19 March 1960
23Pakistan20 March 1960
24Netherlands2 April 1960
25Laos20 May 1960
26Israel1 June 1960
27Sweden10 June 1960
28Indonesia25 December 1960
29Mongolia5 January 1961
30Hungary15 January 1961
31New Zealand1 May 1961
32Afghanistan1 July 1961
33Argentina1 January 1962
34Chile1962
35Turkey15 November 1962
36Lebanon18 August 1963
37Belgium19 August 1963
38Iran14 December 1964
39Canada18 January 1965
40Jordan20 August 1965
41Denmark15 December 1967
42Bulgaria15 April 1968
43Romania20 April 1968
44Algeria29 April 1968
45Spain13 May 1968
46Iraq30 October 1968
47Singapore25 March 1969
48Sudan11 July 1969
49Syria26 February 1970
50Ethiopia15 April 1971
51Kuwait25 February 1972
52Bangladesh8 April 1972
53Albania23 May 1972
54Norway26 January 1973
55North Korea15 May 1974
56South Korea15 May 1974
57Finland21 September 1974
58Tanzania10 January 1975
59Morocco18 February 1975
60Cuba25 March 1975
61Cambodia18 April 1975
62Vietnam15 May 1975
63Kenya3 June 1975
64Mexico25 November 1975
65Luxembourg27 November 1975[14]
66Nigeria20 December 1975
67Libya30 December 1975
68Peru28 January 1976
69Brazil7 February 1976
70Portugal1 September 1976
71Bahrain13 January 1977
72Oman21 January 1977
73Qatar21 January 1977
74United Arab Emirates22 January 1977
75Saudi Arabia15 March 1977
76Costa Rica16 August 1977
77Maldives1 August 1980
78Cyprus18 August 1980
79Mauritius12 February 1981
80Iceland25 May 1981
81Bhutan3 June 1983
—Holy See10 September 1983
82Malta25 September 1983
83Brunei3 February 1984
84Panama15 February 1984
85Tunisia14 April 1984
86Somalia24 October 1984
87Zimbabwe27 November 1984
88Gabon17 June 1985
89Yemen25 December 1985
90Fiji12 June 1986
91Zambia10 September 1986
92Mozambique30 September 1986
93Nicaragua2 October 1986[15]
94Seychelles10 October 1986[15]
95Venezuela27 April 1987[15]
96Colombia6 May 1987[15]
97Bolivia20 May 1987[15]
98Estonia20 April 1992
99Latvia20 April 1992
100Ukraine15 January 1993
101Armenia26 March 1993
102Kyrgyzstan26 March 1993
103Belarus19 July 1993
104Moldova20 July 1993
105Slovakia4 March 1994
106Guyana22 June 1994[15]
107South Africa28 July 1994
108Azerbaijan28 February 1995
109Slovenia2 December 1997
110North Macedonia6 January 1998
111Croatia6 February 1998
112Ireland19 August 1999
113Bosnia and Herzegovina12 January 2000
114Lithuania8 February 2005
115San Marino10 August 2005
116Tajikistan13 September 2005
117Georgia22 September 2005
118Turkmenistan17 October 2005
119Ecuador21 June 2006
120Paraguay2 August 2006
121Guatemala8 August 2006
122Honduras18 August 2006
123Vanuatu19 September 2006
124Andorra22 September 2006
125Democratic Republic of the Congo22 September 2006
126Haiti23 May 2007
127Saint Vincent and the Grenadines27 September 2007
128Dominican Republic28 September 2007
129Botswana8 January 2009
130Mali19 November 2009
131Lesotho18 May 2010
132Montenegro18 July 2011
133Solomon Islands15 December 2011
134Monaco26 March 2012[16]
135Uruguay18 April 2012
136Mauritania4 December 2012
137Tuvalu11 December 2012
138Samoa28 March 2013
139Papua New Guinea12 April 2013
140Kazakhstan30 June 2015
141Jamaica1 October 2015
142Guinea12 May 2016
143El Salvador21 September 2016
144Uganda12 June 2017
145Ivory Coast16 June 2017
146Djibouti14 July 2017
147Antigua and Barbuda25 July 2017
148Cape Verde3 August 2017
149Liberia17 August 2017
150Niger20 September 2017
151Eritrea31 October 2017
152Bahamas7 November 2017
153Liechtenstein24 November 2017
154Angola9 December 2017
155Burkina Faso29 December 2017
156Benin23 January 2018
157Uzbekistan26 January 2018
158Saint Kitts and Nevis30 May 2018
159Burundi6 June 2018
160Rwanda20 July 2018
161Madagascar26 September 2018
162Suriname11 October 2018
163Togo22 March 2019
164Equatorial Guinea30 April 2019
165Eswatini9 May 2019
166Saint Lucia27 August 2019
167Ghana25 September 2019
168Dominica30 April 2021
169Gambia24 May 2021
170Sierra Leone29 June 2021
171Barbados8 December 2021
172Timor-Leste11 February 2022
173Palau21 March 2022
174South Sudan28 March 2022
175Belize1 April 2022
176Trinidad and Tobago16 June 2022
177Malawi16 February 2023
178Nauru4 May 2023
179Cameroon22 June 2023
180Marshall Islands23 June 2023
181Tonga1 March 2024
182Kiribati17 July 2024

Bilateral relations

Afghanistan

Main article: Afghanistan–Nepal relations

Austria

Main article: Austria–Nepal relations

Bangladesh

Main article: Bangladesh–Nepal relations

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

Main article: Bhutan–Nepal relations

Relations with Bhutan have been strained since 1992 over the nationality and possible repatriation of refugees from Bhutan.[19]

Canada

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

Main article: People's Republic of China – Nepal relations

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

See Denmark–Nepal relations.

European Union

Main article: European Union-Nepal relations

France

Main article: France-Nepal relations

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

Main article: India–Nepal relations

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

Main article: Indonesia–Nepal relations

Israel

Main article: Israel–Nepal relations

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

Main article: Japan–Nepal relations

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

Main article: Malaysia–Nepal relations

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

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

Main article: Nepal–Norway relations

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

Main article: Nepal–Pakistan relations

The bilateral relations between Nepal and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan were fully established between 1962 and 1963.[43]

Russia

Main article: Nepal–Russia relations

Serbia

  • A number of bilateral agreements have been concluded and are in force between both countries.[44]

Spain

Main article: Nepal–Spain relations

South Korea

Main article: Nepal–South Korea relations

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

Main article: Nepal–Turkey relations

United Kingdom

Main article: Nepal–United Kingdom relations

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

Main article: Nepal – United States relations

Nepal and the United States established the diplomatic relations between them on 25 April 1947.[51]

See also

References

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  2. ^ Alfred, Gerstl (2023). "China in its Immediate Neighborhood". Contemporary China: a New Superpower?. Kironska, Kristina & Turscanyi, Richard Q. (eds.). Routledge. ISBN 978-1-03-239508-1.
  3. ^ "China increases aid, FDI significantly to Nepal". Business Standard India. 18 March 2015. Retrieved 7 October 2021.
  4. ^ "India raises Nepal grant by nearly 13 percent to Rs15.87 billion". kathmandupost.com. Retrieved 23 June 2021.
  5. ^ Groves, Stephen. "India and Nepal Tackle Border Disputes". The Diplomat. Retrieved 28 March 2017.
  6. ^ WTO, WTO Ministerial Conference approves Nepal's membership, 11 September 2003, accessed 25 January 2017
  7. ^ Nepal ratifies the Trade Facilitation Agreement, 24 January 2017
  8. ^ "Bilateral Relations". Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Nepal. Retrieved 29 January 2025.
  9. ^ "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. ^ "Sugauli Treaty 1816". International Journal of History. Retrieved 30 March 2025.
  11. ^ Protokol der 13. sitzung des Schweizerischen Bundesrates (in French). 19 February 1957. p. 388. Retrieved 2 January 2025.
  12. ^ Petruf, Pavol. Československá zahraničná politika 1945 – 1992 (in Slovak). pp. 99–119.
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  18. ^ "Nepal And Bangladesh, A Strong Relationship". Retrieved 21 February 2015.
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  40. ^ "Nepali PM to leave for Europe _English_Xinhua". Archived from the original on 24 December 2016. Retrieved 28 February 2017.
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