Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has completed one year in office. In this period, Dahal visited the key countries India, China and US, and also attended some multilateral platforms. In this context, ApEx  talked with Rupak Sapkota, prime minister’s foreign affairs advisor, about the Dahal’s accomplishments and foreign policy. 

How do you assess the situation of Nepal’s foreign policy under the leadership of Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal?

The foreign policy of Nepal, under the leadership of Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, has been independent, balanced, and committed to non-alignment movement. The nation has successfully cultivated friendly and balanced relations with neighboring countries, development partners, and major powers. This has fostered an environment of mutual trust, conducive to international cooperation and economic collaboration.

Prime Minister Dahal conducted official visits to India and China, and also visited the US to attend the United Nations General Assembly. At the UN General Assembly, he highlighted Nepal's achievements in the peace process and underscored the adverse impacts of climate change faced by the country. Additionally, in his capacity as the President of the 47 Least Developed Countries (LDCs), the prime minister effectively advocated for the interests of LDCs on the international stage. 

Many see this government as pro-Indian and pro-Western, do you agree?

Early on, there were speculations regarding the foreign policy that Dahal might adopt. But Prime Minister Dahal proved them wrong, as he has already undertaken visits to various countries, including both neighboring nations and the United Nations. These visits have resulted in crucial agreements and understandings.

Notably, a historic agreement has been reached with India to export 10,000 MW of power within a 10-year timeframe. During the visit to China, long-term agreements of importance, particularly in the realm of connectivity, were reached. These include the operation of new trading points and an agreement on a power transmission line. The agreement to open the Korala border has recently been put into operation. The Covid-19 pandemic, natural calamities, etc. had affected Nepal's cooperation with China for some years, but after Prime Minister Dahal’s visit, the relationship between the two countries has gained a new momentum.

Furthermore, the prime minister’s participation in the United Nations General Assembly was noteworthy. UN Secretary-General Guterres also visited Nepal at the prime minister's invitation. During Guterres's four-day visit, Nepal’s key agendas were presented to the global audience. The discussions covered topics such as Nepal’s aspiration to graduate from least developed countries by 2026, the unique and original character of Nepal’s peace process, and the pressing issue of climate change.

But some critics say the prime minister failed to take up key issues with major powers, what is your take on it?

On the contrary, Prime Minister Dahal's tenure has seen notable achievements, thanks to his prudent and mature foreign policy leadership in the face of challenging global circumstances. 

The Covid-19 pandemic disrupted international relations for a considerable period, and ongoing conflicts like the Russia-Ukraine and Israel-Hamas wars, along with heightened global power competition, has added complexity. Against the backdrop of the Galwan Valley clash between China and India in 2020, regional tensions escalated which affected Nepal due to its geographical proximity with China and India. Major world powers sought to enlist Nepal into their strategic plans and alliances, creating a challenging and intricate situation. 

Despite these challenges, the current government has steadfastly pursued an independent, balanced, and non-aligned foreign policy. It has effectively communicated that Nepal aims to avoid entanglement in any geopolitical camp. This stance has laid the groundwork for Nepal’s future international relations, focusing on economic and political development aspirations.

Are you suggesting that Nepal has successfully resisted attempts by powerful nations to influence its alliances, and there are no such risks moving forward?

Not definitively. The nation faces a pressing need to chart its own course in the coming days. The evolving dynamics among major powers indicate a trend towards rivalry, disrupting the existing international security system. This can lead to challenges for Nepal. We should be able to steer clear of these challenges while steadfastly pursuing the chosen path of economic and political cooperation.

What are these challenges, could you please explain them ?

First, there is the heightened military competition and the potential for strategic conflicts. This is a growing concern globally, with superpowers engaging in a military showdown that raises alarms in countries, both large and small. Like Nepal, many countries in the southern hemisphere are hesitant to engage in the current geopolitical conflict and are more concerned about their own economic development. They want to avoid unnecessary entanglements between the eastern and western hemispheres, recognizing the potential negative impact on economic cooperation.

Upholding this policy is crucial to ensuring stability and avoiding distractions in the future. 

Second challenge is the emergence of new political polarization. Unlike the Cold War era, today's rivalry is characterized by ideological competition through trade and technology wars. This shift in political dynamics can lead to the creation of camps. 

And lastly, there is the shift of strategic interests towards economic and political cooperation. Nepal should strive to avoid being caught in such dynamics. The country has already conveyed its stance that it won't participate in such polarization.

After taking both neighbors into confidence, where will be the emphasis of the government in terms of foreign policy?

We must prioritize international cooperation for economic development. Determining the key agenda and effectively managing cooperation are imperative aspects of reshaping our foreign policy and international relations. For a long time, Nepal has championed economic diplomacy as its central approach for development. However, the current global scenario reveals a shift towards military engagements among international powers. This shift has prompted countries, irrespective of size, to escalate military spending. This may affect the dynamics of financial grants and aid that Nepal has historically received. Despite this evolving landscape, Nepal will stick to economic diplomacy. But the pillars of 'economic diplomacy' which we are adopting should be refined and made more comprehensive. So far we have promoted foreign aid, trade, investment, tourism and labor as important pillars of economic diplomacy. Now, the government is broadening the scope of ‘economic diplomacy’ by incorporating ‘climate diplomacy.