# Prem Sagar Poudel
Recently, Kathmandu has become the first destination for the American officials. One after another American officials are coming to Kathmandu. Less than a month after a delegation of US parliamentarians visited Nepal recently, US Under-Secretary of State and Special Coordinator for Tibet Issues Uzra Zeya is visiting Nepal.
Earlier, US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Kelly Keiderling’s team returned from Nepal on 8th Baishakh. While in Nepal, the team also visited Lumbini. In addition, the team was interested in the issue of independent Tibetans in Nepal. Probably, it is the turn of US Secretary of State Antony Blinken to visit Nepal after Uzra’s visit on 6th Jeshth.
The US Embassy in Nepal is currently preparing for US Secretary of State Antony’s visit to Nepal. In particular, the US military has arrived in Nepal to provide security during US Secretary of State Antony’s visit to Nepal. US Secretary of State Antony will pay a visit to Nepal at the time given by them. According to the officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Nepal, US Secretary of State Antony will take flight to Nepal soon after the US Under-Secretary of State and Special Coordinator for Tibet Issues Uzra’s visit to Nepal.
During his visit to Nepal, he will discuss the development of the Indo-Pacific region. While landing in Delhi for a visit to India in Shrawan last year, US Secretary of State Antony congratulated the newly appointed Prime Minister of Nepal, Sher Bahadur Deuba. After leaving New York, Secretary of State Antony, who landed in India on 13th Shrawan 2078, issued a statement from the US State Department claimed that India has been an important partner in the Indo-Pacific region.
The statement said: “The United States supports India in becoming an important partner and a world power in its efforts to make the Indo-Pacific region a region of peace, stability and prosperity.” In other words, the United States is equally likely to interpret Nepal as a base area for the Indo-Pacific region. He had called Nepal’s Prime Minister Deuba during his visit to Delhi, ignoring the usual diplomatic practice of calling the Prime Minister of another country from other’s country. His efforts show that India and Nepal share the same geography in the Indo-Pacific region.
Interest in Indo-Pacific region:
The US wants to define the Indo-Pacific region not only to Nepal but also to India in recent times. In other words, the US seems to be thinking of branding all kinds of American activities in the region under the Indo-Pacific label. Nepal’s the then Foreign Minister Pradip Gyawali has agreed to remain at the center of Indo-Pacific strategy.
On 3rd Poush, 2075, the then Foreign Minister Gyawali had a bilateral meeting with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in Washington DC. During the meeting, the then Foreign Minister Gyawali agreed to be a partner in the Indo-Pacific Strategy, according to a statement issued by the US State Department. After that, the United States interest began to grow towards Nepal. At the time, political parties were trying to skip saying they were more interested in MCC than growing American influence.
The agreement reached during US Secretary of State Antony’s visit to India also illustrates how growing American interest in the region is growing. During his visit to India, India agreed to increase military cooperation with the United States. The agreement reached between the two foreign ministers includes special agreements ranging from the exchange of military information to liaison officers, complex exercises such as Malabar and the Secure Communications Agreement. The United States has opened the way for India to buy up to $ 20 billion worth of defense equipment from the United States by 2020.
All attempts by the US to make India the commander of the Indo-Pacific region seem to have failed. India did not fulfill American interest in Russia-Ukraine war against American will. Despite its policy of neutral, India provided psychological support to Russia. During the war, when Western nations imposed economic sanctions on Russia, India increased its oil imports. India’s assistance to Russia, which has been hampered by the US decision not to buy petroleum, was significant.
On top of that, at a time when the West was deciding not to buy Russian goods, India had decided to buy large quantities of oil from Russia. India had decided to increase the volume of petroleum purchased from Russia, even in the face of payment problems due to international sanctions imposed on Russian banks. India’s decision made it easier for Russia to manage the surplus petroleum stock that the United States did not take from Russia. On the other hand, Russia’s dominance in Indian military equipment seems to be maintained.
The United States has not been able to clarify its position on India because of the relationship between India and Russia, two Cold War partners. Therefore, US activism in Nepal seems to be increasing. Without a break in the winter relations with Russia, India is not in a position to clarify the Indo-Pacific strategy of the United States. That’s why the US is trying to change the Indian eye that has been looking at Nepal. The effort, which began four years ago, is now succeeding due to Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba and his coalition.
Relations between Nepal and India are not good after the blockade of 2072 BS. Even now, this relationship has not been able to pick up speed like before. However, this government seems to be trying to improve relations with India as well. During his visit to India, Prime Minister Deuba visited the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) headquarters, contrary to diplomatic dignity. On the day he landed in India on 18th Chaitra, he was the guest of BJP president JP Nadda and foreign affairs chief Vijay Chauthaiwale. This is the first time that the incumbent Prime Minister of Nepal has visited the office of an Indian party during his visit to India.
India wants Nepal to come under its old influence. Recent events show that Nepal has gradually slipping from the Indian influence and moved closer to the American. Therefore, the more ambiguity of India, the sooner Nepal will slip from the Indian influence. With this government in power, it has become clear that Nepal will be influenced by American. Therefore, the issue of remaining close to India, China-Russia or the United States seems to determine Nepal’s relations in the days to come. It is understood that the Americans see Nepal as an alternative to India.
In case India will be with Americans, American influence will not be directly felt in Nepal. In other words, the United States can continue the whole idea of resolving Nepal’s interests through India. The blockade of 2072 BS has put a brake on this practice. In such a situation, Nepal can balance its relations with other countries by keeping India trust. King Mahendra’s formula seems to be a guide for political parties in such a situation. If India dilemma continues, US influence in Nepal is likely to increase. In particular, the reason for increasing American influence in Nepal is to show India that we have started using Nepal as your alternative.
The US wants to send a message to India that Nepal is your alternative for us. For this reason, the activities of Americans in Nepal have increased. On the other hand, the United States seems to be trying to unify even scattered long-running issues in Nepal. The issue of independent Tibetans is a top priority. The fact that India has restricted the activities of the Dalai Lama to Dharamsala is also the reason why their interest raises on Nepal. However, it is not easy for the United States to take up such activities in Nepal. This issue also needs to be addressed for India.
Nepal or a fruit grows in cliff:
There is a proverb in Nepal, ‘a fruit grows in stiff’. It is a common practice to use this proverb to give an example of an issue that cannot be used when it is needed but cannot be given up as well. At present, Nepal’s neighbors seem to be in the same situation. In other words, Nepal has reached a stage where it cannot be abandoned and useless like the Kuvindo that grows on the stiff. India has been hit the hardest. China is now slowly appearing in place of India. The Government of Nepal is currently interested in how to repatriate the Chinese from the Chinese investment project in Nepal. The latest example of this is Budhigandaki.
The Oli government has decided to hand over the Budhigandaki hydropower project to the Chinese company Gejuwa but Deuba led government planned to make it themselves. Even though China was interested in this issue, the Nepal government did not even care about China’s interest. Earlier, the decision was taken by the Council of Ministers on the recommendation of Water Resources Minister Pampha Bhusal, a confidant of CPN (MC) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal. When Dahal was prime minister, the project was given to a Chinese company without competition. The then Deuba-led election government reversed the decision. Later, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli again decided to hand over the responsibility of construction of the project to a Chinese company.
At present, American assistance in Nepal seems to be increasing one after another. As a result, the general public’s attitude towards Americans is becoming more and more positive. The United States has been increasing its assistance to Nepal, one after the other, to reduce the negative feelings that have developed against the general public, especially during the time to pass the MCC. Visas and opportunities have been made easier for Nepalis going to the US and Europe. The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has agreed to provide grant assistance of Rs. 79.71 billion to Nepal.
At the signing ceremony, Ms. Sepideh Keyvanshad, USAID/Nepal Mission Director, asserted that the assistance agreement outlines a broad development area of cooperation and collaboration between the United States and Nepal. The ‘Outline of Broad Development Area of Cooperation’ has not been made public in Nepal. However, the concept of the Indo-Pacific Strategy is an outline of the broad development area of cooperation that the United States is proposing. In other words, Nepal has endorsed the concept put forward by the United States in a roundabout way after this agreement. The agreement was signed during a program organized at the Ministry of Finance on 22nd Baishakh 2079 BS. On behalf of Nepal, the agreement was signed by Ishwori Prasad Aryal, Joint Secretary and Head of International Economic Cooperation Coordination Division (IECCD), Ministry of Finance and Sepideh, Director, USAID.
The reason for the recent increase in US interest in Nepal is the use of Nepal’s land as an alternative to India rather than Nepal. Earlier, even during the Khampa Rebellion, the US had used Nepali land with ease. The revolt, which was carried out on Nepali soil with American weapons against China, failed due to seeing through the eyes of the United States. After the US withdrew, the Nepal Army easily suppressed the Khampa insurgency. Therefore, the situation in Nepal is no different not only for China and India but also for the United States.
Indian PM’s visit to Lumbini:
At the invitation of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is coming to Lumbini to participate in a special program to be organized on the occasion of the 2566th Buddha Jayanti on 2nd Jeshth. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs has not yet commented on the visit.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to arrive in Lumbini via Kushinagar in Uttar Pradesh on 2nd Jeshth. In Lumbini, Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba and Indian Prime Minister Modi will jointly address the special event. Ministers and high-ranking officials of the Government of Nepal will also participate in the program. Construction of four helipads is underway for the landing of the Indian delegation including Modi. About 50 workers have been employed in the construction of the helipad.
The Indian government is planning to build a Buddhist Bihar in Lumbini. Prime Minister Deuba and Indian Prime Minister Modi are scheduled to lay the foundation stone of Bihar. India plans to build Bihar within three to four years at a cost of about one billion Indian rupees. It is said that the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of India will construct the Bihar.
Lumbini Buddhist University is preparing to honor Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi with an ‘honorary doctorate’ on the occasion of his visit to Lumbini. Lumbini Buddhist University is about to be honored with a doctorate. The executive council of the university has already decided to give an honorary doctorate to Modi. A certificate has also been prepared to confer an honorary doctorate to the Indian Prime Minister. The Chancellor of Lumbini University will be the Prime Minister. Discussions are underway between the Government of Nepal and the Government of India on the issue of appointing a Chairperson from India at Lumbini Buddhist University.
Discussions are underway at the diplomatic level on the issue of appointing the chairman of Lumbini Buddhist University with the financial support of the Government of India. However, no decision has been taken yet.
Modi will spend an hour and a half in worship at the Mayadevi temple. The Indian Prime Minister will light candle at the Ashoka Pillar and rest on a Bodhi tree south of the Pushkarani pond. Prime Minister Deuba and Modi will also hold brief talks in Lumbini.
Kathmandu is not in the schedule of Modi’s visit. Modi’s one-day visit, which is set to take place on the occasion of Buddha Jayanti, is being formalized, officials said.
