Time To Reset Foreign Policy

Yuba Nath Lamsal: --- The foreign policy of any country is always guided by national interest. The national interests are permanent features which include, among others, sovereignty, territorial integrity, security and economic prosperity. Foreign policy, hence, is basically marked by continuity, which does not generally change with the change of governments and regimes. However, the approach and priorities in handling foreign policy sometimes change depending upon the domestic compulsion, regional and international developments and context. Individuals, too, sometimes make a difference in foreign policy and diplomacy. It depends upon the individual leader’s ability, competence, attitude and commitment. Nepal’s foreign policy has been marked by continuity and occasional change depending upon the domestic context and international environment. Nepal’s foreign policy goal has always been guided by its national interest, which primarily is its survival. Presently, our constitution has clearly spelled out foreign policy goals, guidelines and priorities. Right from the time when Nepal emerged as a nation-state in the mid-18th century, it has always been struggling to defend its sovereignty and independence, as its geographical position remained squeezed between the two great powers. Prithivi Narayan Shah, who founded modern Nepal by unifying several scattered principalities, also laid down basic but vague foreign policy outlines. Cautious approach He said Nepal is like a yam between the two boulders, suggesting building friendly relations with the northern empire and a cautious approach with British colonial power in the South. Even now, the geopolitical scenario continues to be similar, although the behaviour and nature of the two powers are different. Nepal’s approach then was strategic as Nepal was in the process of territorial expansion. However, Nepal’s territorial expansion drive came to an abrupt halt after the Sugauli Treaty in 1816, which marked a significant shift in Nepal’s foreign policy orientation, too. Nepal’s post-Sugauli Treaty foreign policy changed from a strategic approach to survival tactics, which was more or less British-centric. However, with Junga Bahadur Rana’s rise to power following the Kot massacre, Nepal’s approach was further narrowed down to appeasing the British, from which the Rana oligarchy survived for over a century. Although Rana’s foreign policy approach is said to be ‘strategy for survival’, it was in practice survival for the Rana oligarchy as Rana rule came to an end soon after the British withdrew from India. However, this policy sometimes benefited Nepal as it regained a small part of lost territories (Banke, Bardiya, Kailali and Kanchanpur) from the British, for which Jung Bahadur’s role was appreciable. The period of prime minister Padma Sumsher Rana was another important milestone in the history of Nepal’s international relations, as the government established diplomatic relations with the United States in 1947, which marks a great significance in Nepal’s political as well as diplomatic history. This heralds the beginning of diversifying Nepal’s foreign relations, for which Padma Sumsher Rana deserves a place in foreign policy history. The 1951 political change opened up a new vista in Nepal’s international relations. Tanka Prasad Acharya, as the prime minister, made some important decisions on issues pertaining to foreign policy and international relations. The other personality whose name stands proudly in foreign policy history is BP Koirala, the first democratically elected prime minister of Nepal, who asserted national interest vocally in the international arena. Koirala established diplomatic relations with Israel, making Nepal the first country in South Asia to recognise Israel, which was later followed by other South Asian countries as well. Although King Mahendra has earned a bad reputation due to his act of dismantling democracy, his name stands with pride when it comes to Nepal’s international relations, foreign policy and diplomacy. King Mahendra’s role was instrumental in navigating independent and balanced foreign policy and projecting Nepal’s image as a non-aligned nation on the world stage. It was his period that Nepal joined the United Nations, Non-Aligned Movement and established diplomatic relations with China, further diversifying relations. When King Mahendra took the throne, Nepal had diplomatic relations with four countries—the UK, the US, India and France. But by the time he passed away in 1972, the number of countries with which Nepal had diplomatic relations had reached 52. Nepal also served as a non-permanent member of the prestigious UN Security Council during this period. King Birendra’s role has also been important in Nepal’s foreign policy domain. Giving continuity to foreign policy diversification, he emphasised making Nepal’s role more active on the global stage. It was during this period that Nepal was elected for the second time to the UN Security Council as a non-permanent member. His Zone of Peace proposal was yet another important step to project Nepal on the international stage as an advocate of peace, and it was recognized by 116 countries, including four permanent members of the UN Security Council (the US, China, UK, and France). Diplomatic handling Since the 1990 political change, Nepal’s foreign policy and diplomatic handling seem to have derailed and been politicised and ideologised. Once former prime minister Girija Prasad Koirala said Nepal’s foreign policy would be based on democracy and human rights. This trend further intensified after the 2005 political change and Nepal’s diplomatic weakness became visible one after another. The SAARC failed when Nepal was its chair and Nepal’s diplomatic competence was visibly exposed in handling the Bhutanese refugee issue. The immaturity and inconsistency of leaders in handling foreign policy and diplomacy have negatively impacted our diplomatic image and credibility in the international arena. Now, the new government, led by Balendra Shah, is expected to correct the old mess in different sectors, including foreign policy and the diplomatic sphere. The new Prime Minister recently met Kathmandu-based ambassadors, collectively ending the earlier tradition of giving individual diplomats easy and direct access to the head of government. In addition, the new government has indicated to strictly observe the diplomatic code of conduct. Similarly, Foreign Minister Sishir Khanal’s speech and statements in the 9th Indian Ocean Conference in Mauritius and other side-line meetings appear to be mature and well-balanced with a focus on national priorities. As the adage goes, ‘well begun is half-done’, the beginning of a new government is positive. People are highly optimistic about the new government, which is expected to live up to popular expectations in different sectors, including foreign policy and diplomacy. (The author is a former chief editor of this daily and a former ambassador. lamsalyubanath@gmail.com) Published in The Rising Nepal on April 15, 2026. For original article, please visit: https://risingnepaldaily.com/news/78751