Nepal’s bilateral relations with the United States were forged in 1947 during the petering out of the Rana oligarchy in the post-War World. The U. was one of the four countries besides Britain, India, and France to tie up diplomatic relations with Nepal. In 1953 the residential missions were established enhancing diplomatic relations. Additionally, Nepal is a good neighbor of India and China. However, America is the third power, a world power to maintain good ties in Nepal’s international relations. Nepal and America have primacy in diplomatic relations – mutual and reciprocal. Interests align on development diplomacy, world security, freedom, sovereignty, and independent identity in international relations. In these parameters of international interests to maintain fraternal relations to pursue peace and security based on liberty and justice is the hallmark of diplomacy.
Many ingredients comprise Nepal-America bilateral relations such as in the domain of political, economic, educational, social, development, heritage preservation, nature conservation efforts, financial, scientific, and technological and security. Diplomacy engages these matters to optimize interests to the benefit of both. Some may provide kudos to these longstanding and cherishing memories of relations while some are critics of imperial and hegemonic overtures of America towards puny countries and powerless actors. There are challenges, opportunities, risks, and threats of proximity and intimacy in bilateral diplomacy in juxtaposition to the emerging power of India and the assertive peaceful rise of China. So factors account for Nepal-America relations when the situation develops and envelopes in the immediate neighborhood, beyond it in Asia-Pacific and the world theater at large.
Nepal can feel the contentment of global policy based on our experience and perception of the world. Nepal’s world view is independent, autonomous and sovereign. Sometimes it may create unease in the Western countries of Nepal not being fully aligned with their diplomatic posture or policy rhetoric. Nepal cannot compromise on the ideals and reality of world affairs when it abides by the principles and purposes of the United Nations Charter and follows the basics or fundamentals to conduct international relations. In the global hotspot of geopolitical rivalry, space invasion has become a real issue of species to travel across geography not only in the case of human beings or political individuals but also perennial movements of fauna, the international experts indulge to study and ensure their survival.
As in the past, Nepal’s position is clear on international issues that America finds or concludes to be insatiable to its global interests. It is direly neither enough nor exacting for America from Nepal’s foreign policy posture. Meantime, America is proactive in world leadership where it cultivates like-minded countries and fashions similar ideas among national and regional leaders. While development is Nepal’s prime agenda, simultaneously it is securing democracy to support peace-building and deliberative consensus based on freedom, justice, and truth. Good governance, economic prosperity and open government partnerships are common interests to enrich learning and insights that have tremendous potential and prospects for knowledge management in democracy, development, and peace corps in Nepal and America.
Aid has preoccupied the menu of American diplomacy in Nepal. USAID Nepal Mission undertakes development diplomacy in Nepal. In a democratic change, augmenting trade, investment and business are conducive so that employment opportunities, economic prosperity and lucrative enterprises embolden the spirit of good and robust bilateral relations. Nepal’s public policy has attuned to the elemental forces of this contemporary epoch. Diplomatic choices are needed to be skillfully chosen to bring substantial reform, perform and transform bilateral relations when Nepal’s domestic affairs settle right on the track. Local elections are around the political corner and in the future capital, investment and technology are crucial to achieving the sustainable development Nepal is longing for.
Liberal democracy is the cornerstone of evolving global democracy and global development goals. Nepal is an important partner in this community of democratic interests where the West leads the design and praxis of modernity, development and democracy. The 21st century belongs to the people who avow democratic conviction and peaceful diplomacy against authoritarianism or illiberal traits of polity and against conflict or violence as means to resolve political problems. Liberalism, democracy and capitalism are becoming universal aspirations mainstream political and civil society of Nepal and America both reckon with. 75 years of bilateral relations is an anniversary of celebrating partnerships, ideals and interests of the two oldest state systems of the world. A turning point is actually in the offing in the tour d’horizon of diplomacy when experts of international relations stock take the impending future.
