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Amid reports of serious impacts on critical sectors such as health and education in developing and least-developed countries following cuts in U.S. aid, senior State Department officials have said that Washington has not pulled back assistance but is instead recalibrating it.

Speaking at a conference on U.S. foreign assistance in the Indo-Pacific held in Washington, the officials said the United States continues to provide support in the Indo-Pacific region in line with U.S. national security interests and President Donald Trump’s foreign policy priorities.

Allison Hooker, U.S. Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, said the administration’s aid strategy in the region represents a calibration, not a pullback. “The U.S. is a Pacific power, and the future of the Indo-Pacific is directly tied to our core national interests,” she said, highlighting that Washington’s commitment to the Indo-Pacific remains unwavering.

In his second term as president, the Trump administration dismantled the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), a move that has stressed the health and education systems of scores of countries that had long relied on American aid.

“Our foreign assistance needs to be a force multiplier as we safeguard our national security with the greatest military in the world, along with our allies and like-minded partners,” Hooker said.

Speaking at the same conference, Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Michael DeSombre said, “We never got out of the foreign assistance business as some media narratives have claimed. During the review period of foreign aid, however, we saw an opportunity to fundamentally reimagine how foreign assistance is done, which required us to step back and examine the underlying principles that would guide our work.”

The resulting principles, he said, form a strategic framework aligned with the core tenets of the National Security Strategy and will guide U.S. efforts to ensure programs remain focused and effective. The statements by senior officials clearly indicate that the U.S. will continue to provide support in selective and narrow areas that align with its national interests.

The Trump administration issued a new National Security Strategy in November that places the Indo-Pacific region high on its list of priorities.

The document states: “The Indo-Pacific is already the source of almost half the world’s GDP based on purchasing power parity (PPP), and one third based on nominal GDP. That share is certain to grow over the 21st century, which means the Indo-Pacific is already—and will continue to be—among the next century’s key economic and geopolitical battlegrounds.”

“To thrive at home, we must successfully compete there—and we are,” the document says, noting that President Trump signed major agreements during his October 2025 travels that further deepened ties in commerce, culture, technology, and defense, reaffirming U.S. commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific.

The strategy also emphasizes improving commercial and other relations with India to encourage New Delhi’s contribution to Indo-Pacific security, including continued quadrilateral cooperation with Australia, Japan, and the United States under the “Quad.” It further states that the U.S. will work to align the actions of its allies and partners to prevent domination by any single competitor nation.

In Nepal, as in other countries, more than 80 percent of USAID assistance has been cut, though Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) investments have continued. Nearly a year after Trump returned to power, no senior U.S. officials have visited Nepal, even as there have been frequent visits to other smaller South Asian countries, notably Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan. Similarly, following the Gen Z movement, the U.S. has maintained a low-key profile in Nepal.

Although voting in the ongoing 11th National Congress of the CPN UML was said to begin from 8:00, it began delaying an hour.

The National Congress to elect new leadership in UML is going on at Bhrikutimandap, Kathmandu. 

It was inaugurated by Chairman, KP Sharma Oli, at Sallaghari, Bhaktapur last Saturday. 

KP Sharma Oli and Ishwor Pokharel are vying for the post of chairman. Oli is in re-election bid for the third time in a row.

A total of 660 leaders have filed candidacies for the 301-member central committee in the party. 

There are 80 machines installed for voting. As many as 2,263 representatives are attending the convention.

The leadership-changing convention of the UML is held in the wake of the Sept 8-9 Gen Z movement that significantly influenced national politics. 

The event is observed with keen interest whether Oli, who had to step down as Prime Minister of the coalition government following the Gen Z movement, will be reelected chairman for the third time to reinforce his power in the party or gets drubbed by Pokharel. 

The Oli-led faction has claimed that it is an adverse situation facing the party and country, which warrants a leadership of able person, while Pokharel and his panel have asserted that Oli should not continue considering the anti-incumbency atmosphere, especially after the Gen Z movement.

The final list of candidates for the election to be held under the 11th National Congress of the CPN-UML has been published. 

As per the name list of the candidates published by the Central Election Commission of the party, Chairperson KP Sharma Oli and senior Vice-President Ishwor Pokharel are contesting for the post of Chairperson. 

Similarly, 11 candidates have filed their candidacies for five posts of Vice Chairperson. 

Similarly, Shankar Pokhrel and Surendra Pandey have registered their nominations for the post of General Secretary. 

Likewise, seven people have registered their candidacies for the post of Deputy General Secretary as well as 20 candidacies for nine Secretaries. 

The Commission has made preparations to hold voting from 4 pm today. 

There are 2,262 representatives in the National Congress.

The representatives of the 11th National Congress of the CPN-UML are going to vote today to elect the new leadership of the party.  

According to the Chairman of UML Central Election Commission Dr Bijaya Subba, the voting will take place this afternoon. 

It is said that the voting will be conducted by electronic voting machines. 

A total of 80 electronic voting machines have been arranged for the voting purpose.  

Managing Director of Ram Laxman Innovation Pvt. Ltd, Laxman Rimal, said that entry of the candidates' name list is going on from the company.

“We are making efforts to complete our part in time and handover to the UML Central Election Commission," Rimal shared.

He also hinted at some delay in the voting time since it is time consuming to enter the names of the candidates given the large number of the candidates.   

Aspirant candidates on Monday registered their nominations for the post of office-bearers and central committee members and the final name list of the voters was released on Monday itself. 

The UML's 11th National Congress will elect a 301-member new central committee.

As per the schedule, the voting will be held at Bhrikutimandap in Kathmandu this afternoon. 

Chairperson KP Sharma Oli and Senior Vice Chairperson Ishwor Pokharel are vying for the top post in the UML.