Foreign relations of Nepal

Though the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) is the government agency responsible for conducting the foreign relations of Nepal, historically, it has been the Office of the Prime Minister (PMO) that has exercised the authority to formulate the country's foreign policies. Nepal maintains a policy of non-alignment and pursues friendly relations with a wide range of countries. Due to its strategic location between two regional giants, China and India, Nepal’s foreign policy is largely centered on maintaining balanced and peaceful ties with both neighbors while safeguarding its sovereignty and independence. Nepal is a member of various international organizations, including the United Nations, the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation SAARC, and the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation BIMSTEC. The country actively participates in regional cooperation efforts and seeks to enhance economic, cultural, and diplomatic exchanges with countries worldwide. Nepal’s foreign relations also emphasize development assistance, trade partnerships, and promoting peace and stability in South Asia.

Overview

Constitutionally, Nepal's foreign policy is to be guided by "the principles of the United Nations Charter, nonalignment, Panchsheel (five principles of peaceful coexistence), international law and the value of world peace."

Nepal's most substantive international relations are perhaps with international economic institutions such as the Asian Development Bank, the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, and the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation. Nepal also has strong bilateral relations with major providers of economic and military aid, such as France, Germany, Japan, South Korea, Switzerland, the United States, and particularly the United Kingdom, with whom military ties date back to the nineteenth century. The country's external relations are managed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Prime Minister's Office.

In its foreign policy, Nepal generally seeks to balance its relations with its large neighbors India and China in order to avoid dependency on either one. Nepal's relation with China has seen a major upswing in the recent years with China now becoming Nepal's top 5 aid donor to Nepal.