Preparations Underway for Prime Minister’s Foreign Visits: US Special Envoy and Indian Foreign Secretary to Arrive in Kathmandu

Nearly a month after Prime Minister Balendra Shah assumed office, he has not yet been very active in direct diplomatic meetings. However, officials have confirmed that preparations for his upcoming foreign visits have already begun. A few weeks ago, during an event on security in the Indian Ocean region held in Mauritius, Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal revealed that an invitation had been extended to Prime Minister Shah from India, which has since been accepted. He also noted that preliminary arrangements would take place prior to finalizing the dates, including an initial visit by the Indian Foreign Secretary to Kathmandu before proceeding to Delhi.

As part of these high-level visit preparations, it is reported that Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri is scheduled to visit Kathmandu for a two-day trip toward the end of the month of Baisakh. Since the Prime Minister took office, the U.S. Deputy Secretary of State responsible for South and Central Asian affairs has already visited Nepal. This week, Sergio Gor, the U.S. Special Envoy for South and Central Asia and Ambassador to India, is also expected to arrive in Kathmandu. Despite the groundwork laid for these high-level visits, the Prime Minister has yet to publicly articulate a clear stance on his government’s foreign policy.

However, in a collective meeting with various ambassadors of countries operating in Nepal after assuming office, the Prime Minister briefly addressed the group and expressed a commitment to adopting a ‘balanced and pragmatic’ foreign policy. This week will see U.S. Special Envoy Sergio Gor visit Kathmandu, followed by Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri’s trip approximately two weeks later. Misri’s visit is widely interpreted as linked to Prime Minister Shah’s upcoming trip to India. Historically, Nepalese and Indian officials jointly announce such high-level visits, yet neither country has formally confirmed the exact dates of Indian Foreign Secretary Misri’s visit to date.