Shisir Khanal’s foreign trips are not enough to secure Nepal’s interests

Nepal's Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal is engaged in a delicate diplomatic balancing act, visiting China shortly after a trip to India, aiming to maintain equilibrium between the two powerful neighbors. A key objective of the China visit is to assuage Beijing's concerns regarding increasing American involvement in Kathmandu, which China views with suspicion, linking it to recent political events and stalled Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) projects.

The geopolitical landscape is fraught with competing interests. The US seeks to reduce Chinese influence and counter the BRI, which China considers central to President Xi Jinping's foreign policy. Nepal faces the challenge of engaging with the BRI without alienating India and the US. Simultaneously, over-reliance on India carries the risk of scenarios like past blockades.

Despite these complexities, Khanal's emphasis on prioritizing Nepali interests, including staking claims on disputed territories like Lipulekh with India, signals a foreign policy driven by national interest. However, domestic political factors, such as Prime Minister Balendra Shah's perceived aloofness towards visiting Indian officials and his suggestion of 'English mediation' for border disputes, complicate matters. These actions, coupled with the warm reception for a political figure in India, create uncertainty and suspicion among foreign partners, including China, regarding Nepal's foreign policy direction.