New Govt. Diplomatic Tone

Yuba Nath Lamsal:-- Foreign policy is part of the broader national strategy, whereas diplomacy is a tool. The first and foremost strategy of any country is to ensure its survival and independence or broader national interest. Based on foreign policy priorities and guidelines, diplomacy is conducted. Foreign policy, as a strategy, seeks to secure what its national interests demand, while diplomacy, as an instrument, is concerned more with how foreign policy objectives are to be achieved. Diplomats are those who represent their county abroad and act tactfully and in an astute manner to achieve the goals and objectives laid down in the foreign policy strategy. As diplomacy is a form of political interaction in the international arena, it requires special skills, acumen, and expertise with which diplomats must be well versed. The world is ever more inter-connected and interdependent due to deeper economic interaction and technological advancement, requiring countries to have multiple types of engagements and relations with other countries and stakeholders. Multiple stakeholders In the modern, diverse society where multiple political stakeholders and actors have their roles to play in the governance and policy-making domain. The national interests are uniform and common for all actors and stakeholders of the state and thus the foreign policy normally does not change with the change of government at home. In this sense, foreign policy is often marked by continuity despite changes in regimes and governments. However, there may not always be uniformity among different political actors and stakeholders concerning their outlook, approaches, priorities and preferences in achieving the foreign policy objectives or national interests. Nepal’s foreign policy is marked by more continuity and a little change. Right from the emergence as a nation state, the fundamental objective of Nepal’s foreign policy has been to protect its sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence. Nepal has, accordingly, pursued its diplomacy. Since the beginning as a nation state, Nepal’s foreign policy strategy has been consistent, while diplomatic approaches may have differed depending upon changes in domestic politics and international dynamics. Nepal’s diplomatic approaches varied during different political systems and regimes, which can be categorised into six main phases: the unification era, the period after the Sugauli Treaty until Jung Bahadur Rana’s rise to power, the entire period of Rana rule, post 1951 political change till 1962, the three decades of the Panchayat regime and post-1990 political change or democratic and republican era. Although the core and fundamental objective has remained the same, the nature of diplomatic dealings has differed during these six different phases. Now we have a new Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP)’s government, headed by Balendra Shah with an overwhelming majority, which seems to have jump started reforms and improvements in different sectors, including foreign policy and the diplomatic arena. In principle, foreign policy prominently figures in documents as well as in the rhetoric of all parties. The election manifestoes of all parties raised almost similar issues and approaches in foreign policy and diplomatic front during the March 5 election. However, the past experiences have shown that once the elections are over, their promises are soon forgotten and little attention is paid when it comes to the implementation. This trend has been more so in the foreign policy domain. It is expected that the RSP will remain mindful not to forget its promises made in the election manifesto and sincerely put them into practice. After coming to power with an overwhelming majority, the new government has started a new and appreciable norm in our diplomatic dealings that is to follow the diplomatic code of conduct strictly commensurate with our own norms and the Vienna Convention. Similarly, the government has spelled out some key tasks to be accomplished on a priority basis, including matters concerning foreign policy and diplomacy. The new government has promised to turn the country into important and vibrant bridge between India and China from a buffer status. The buffer state is a colonial construct and British colonial rulers in India tried to portray Nepal as a buffer state, especially in relations with China. However, Nepal is not a buffer state but an organically evolved country. Nepal has been an independent and sovereign country throughout history, even when the rest of South Asia was a British colony. Nepal is one of the oldest independent countries in Asia and a stakeholder of the greater Asian civilisation. Thus, the vibrant and dynamic bridge better suits. Additionally, RSP’s concept of building a trilateral partnership among Nepal, India and China is also a good idea. However, the realisation of this concept will depend on the willingness of our two neighbours. Friendship with all and malice to none is Nepal’s stated foreign policy based on non-alignment and values enshrined in the UN Charter. These international norms and values are the strength of countries like Nepal, which need to be strictly adhered to. In principle, our relations with all countries are based on friendship and mutual equality. In the present realist world, countries’ relations and engagements are getting more transactional. The level of countries’ engagements and relations vary depending upon transaction, contribution and cooperation. Being immediate neighbours, India and China definitely occupy more prominence in our foreign policy as our engagements have multiple layers with them. India stands even more prominently because of our geographical compulsion and deep social, cultural and economic affinity and interaction. Development partners China is not only our neighbour but also the world’s oldest continuing civilisation, with which Nepal’s relations are civilisational. The United States is an equally important development partner, as the US contribution and support to Nepal has been very significant right from the time when these two countries established diplomatic relations in 1947. Similarly, countries like Japan, Germany, South Korea, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Norway, Finland, Denmark and Australia are important development partners whose contribution to Nepal’s social and economic development and modernisation has been significant. Thus, our diplomacy needs to be accordingly prioritised with our neighbours and development partners, apart from a general friendly approach with the rest of the countries. Balanced, dynamic and pragmatic diplomacy, enhancing better connectivity with neighbours and advocating rights and problems of land-locked countries in the international forums, focusing on climate diplomacy and enhancing Nepal’s soft power are the key priorities of the RSP government in the foreign policy and diplomatic realm. The priorities are definitely appropriate and achievable but it remains to be seen how the government builds and mobilises its diplomatic capability and craftiness upon which its success will depend. (The author is former ambassador and former chief editor of this daily. lamsalyubanath@gmail.com)