Prabhu Yadav,

Lecturer in English, Patan Multiple Campus, TU

And former Treasurer of the Nepal Council for World Affairs (NCWA)

Summary:

Nepal, a geostrategic country in South Asia, has based its foreign policy on the fundamental principles of the Non-Aligned Movement. The fundamental foreign policy objective is to enhance Nepal’s dignity in the international arena by maintaining the country’s sovereignty, integrity and independence. The nepal foreign policy is guided by the unshakeable faith in the United Nations and the policy of non-alignment. The basic principles guiding the country’s foreign policy include mutual respect for each other’s territorial integrity and sovereignty; non-interference in the internal affairs of the other; respect for mutual equality; non-aggression and cooperation for mutual benefit.

Keywords: Nepal’s role in foreign policy, militarization and environmental degradation.

Introduction:

In the mid-twentieth century, Nepal became a member of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), initiated by Third World leaders like Ghana’s first President Kwame Nkrumah, Yugoslav President Josip Broz Tito, Egypt’s second President Gamal Abdel Nasser, Indonesia’s first President Sukarrno and India’s first Prime Minister Pundit Jawaharlal Nehru. The idea of ​​the Non-Aligned Movement was to “guarantee independence, and it remained apart from the military alliance represented by the former Soviet Union and the United States of America” (3) . The concept of NAM was formed to neutralize the Cold War. The concept of NAM was first “proposed by Indian diplomat VK Krishna Menonat the UN in 1953. The countries of the Non-Aligned Movement were united for their independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and security. Nepal wanted to be a free and peaceful nation by standing apart from any military alliance in accordance with the principles of NAM. The security of a nation is the fundamental issue of the Non-Aligned Movement. Nepal, as a member of NAM, has also come up with a distinct philosophy of Lord Buddha and the dignity of the highest peak of Mount Everest in world history.

Several treaties were signed with many countries during the year 1955. Nepal became a signatory to the Charter of the United Nations in December and Nepal’s diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China were established in August 1955. During the six decades of the 1950 treaty with India, Nepal’s foreign policy followed “the codes of the Charter of Nations Nations, the Panchsheel, Principles and Purposes of International Law and NAM” (2). Nepal has always been under Indian influence in the conduct of its internal affairs. Such influence is not good as it may exacerbate relations bilateral.

Nepal’s Role, Policy and Position After World War II, Nepal’s presence in the Non-Aligned Movement did much to assert the country’s sovereign status in the world order. In the early 1950s, many countries were unsure whether Nepal was a truly sovereign and independent country. This was reflected in the reservations encountered when Nepal first applied for membership of the United Nations in 1953. Thus, the late King Mahendra along with other Nepalese leaders made widespread international recognition of independence and sovereignty of Nepal the main goal of Nepal’s foreign policy in the late 1950s and 1960s. King Mahendra’s participation in the Afro-Asian Conference, in Bandung, Indonesia in April 1955, was Nepal’s first foray into the international arena. Nepal participated in the conference of non-aligned countries held in 1955 in Bangdung, Indonesia, and also worked for the promotion of five principles of Panchasheel adopted by the conference. Nepal is one of the founding members of the movement. This was followed by the admission of Nepal as a member of the UN in December 1955. Subsequently, Nepal used the Summits of the Non-Aligned Movement as important forums to affirm its status as a truly sovereign country. and independent.
Nepal’s active participation in ministerial meetings and at the summit of the Non-Aligned Movement brought Nepalese leaders into contact with diplomats and politicians from many countries with which Nepal had not even established diplomatic relations.

Nepal has always upheld and upheld the core values ​​of the Non-Aligned Movement. Nepal, as an active member of NAM, has contributed greatly to all its summit meetings and other forums since its founding with the aim of giving vitality to this organization.

At the 17th NAM Ministerial Meeting held in Algiers in 2014, Nepal was represented by its Minister of Foreign Affairs. At the conference, Foreign Minister Mahendra Pandey voiced Nepal’s concerns in placing greater emphasis on greater and effective unity and solidarity among member countries of the Non-Aligned Movement “on all issues and outstanding issues”, and called for a coherent approach to make the Non-Aligned Movement more effective and dynamic.

This has been Nepal’s consistent stance and stance since joining the organization. In principle, Nepal’s policy and position has remained unchanged on the relevance of the NAM and the need to make this movement more meaningful, dynamic and effective in tackling a wide range of problems and issues that the world, in general, and the developing world in particular, are facing.

The great importance that Nepal attaches to the NAM is reflected in its foreign policy, which is based on the ideals and principles of the United Nations Charter and the Non-Aligned Movement. Furthermore, Nepal has also expressed its willingness to support the initiatives of the Non-Aligned Movement to fight against abject poverty, violation of human rights, culture of violence and impunity, excessive militarization and environmental degradation.

Nepal-Russia relations:

Allow me to share with you a few words about the enduring ties of cooperation and support between Nepal and Russia. The 2019 Global Network Annual Meeting held in the three cities, Moscow, Crimea and St. Petersburg, gave me the opportunity to highlight “Nepal-Russia Relations: A Nepalese Perspective”.

Relations between Nepal and Russia have remained cordial, cooperative, friendly and trouble-free since the establishment of diplomatic relations more than six decades ago. Nepal, indeed, is proud to maintain cordial and friendly relations with Russia which has remained a major influential power in international relations.

Addressing a program organized by different Nepal-Russia friendship associations such as Russian Science and Culture Center, Nepal-Russia Friendship and Culture Association, Nepal Chamber of Commerce and Industry -Russia and Mitrakunj, the program of Russian compatriots organized to mark the anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Russia and Nepal, the guest of honor, the then Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and former Speaker of the Nepalese Parliament, Krishna Bahadur Mahara, said that “Relations between Nepal and Russia have always remained cordial and Russia is Nepal’s trusted friend”. He continued, “Nepal always attaches great importance to relations with Russia. He played a very important role in maintaining peace and harmony in the world. As a permanent member of the UN Security Council, Russia undoubtedly plays a decisive role in maintaining international peace and security. As we all know, Russia is one of the few nuclear powers in the world. While its nuclear arsenal is huge and vast, it is not opposed to nuclear disarmament on earth and in space.

Russia helped Nepal to human resource development (HRD) by providing opportunities including scholarships for Nepalese students to study various courses including technical subjects like medicine and engineering at reputable Russian universities and other advanced technical institutes. Nepal is proud to have more than 5000 Nepalese graduates from Russian universities. These graduates have held important positions in government as well as in the private sector.

Russia has made tremendous progress in the field of science and technology, including the exploration of outer space. We are convinced that Russia is opposed to the militarization and nuclearization of outer space and has shown its readiness to reduce, if not completely eliminate, its nuclear stockpiles. Speaking at the 10th meeting of the Fourth Committee of the Sixty-fifth United Nations General Assembly, the representative of the Russian Federation said that “the world is running the risk of turning outer space into an arena for the arms race, which would have a negative impact on the general spirit of cooperation and trust between countries.

“It is a reason for satisfaction that Russia welcomes any initiative that would guarantee a lasting peace so that people, both in developed and developing countries, can work towards the creation of a stable, prosperous and peaceful society. . For development to take place at an accelerated pace, a country like Nepal needs a trained and educated workforce and Russian cooperation in the development of HRD in this country is highly appreciated.

The path to follow:

Finally, we are convinced that this conference, which is being held in Moscow, Crimea and Saint Petersburg, will strengthen global efforts aimed at creating a new world order based on peace, justice, equity and harmony to honor the aspirations of humanity against all kinds of weapons and armament. The whole world knows that nations spend millions of money to amass weapons and nuclear weapons on earth and even in space. Such a situation can only lead humanity to the brink of a catastrophic war on earth and even in space. It is in this context that sensible human beings should oppose all warmongering activities that could ultimately lead to the very extinction of humanity.

End text.

# Text reproduced with kind permission: The Nepal Council of World Affairs Annual Journal, 2020.
# Thanks to the author and NCWA editorial staff of the Journal: Ed. Upadhyaya. PN

Mentioned works:

Neraula, Bhekh Raj. &Dhakal, Shanta.Integrated Social Studies. In the Anglo-Nepalese War,
Kathmandu: Megha, 2018.
Rose, E.Lio. Survival strategy. London: University of California Press, 2010.
Lohani, Mohan. “Reorienting Nepal-India Relations in the Changing Context” Ed.
Madhavje & Anjan, Kathmandu: ICC, 2016.