Between strategy and geography: Nepal's foreign policy in the shadow of India-China competition
Summary
Nepal navigates its foreign policy amid evolving India-China competition by balancing economic opportunities and strategic autonomy while fostering transparency and diversification of partnerships.
Key Points
- Nepal's foreign policy operates at the intersection of China’s systemic ambition and India’s security-driven realism.
- China’s growing engagement with Nepal offers economic opportunities but also strategic risks concerning India’s security sensitivities.
- Nepal must pursue a calibrated balance in foreign policy that leverages economic diplomacy and maintains national agency despite asymmetry.
- Internal challenges like policy inconsistency and political instability hinder Nepal’s ability to fully leverage external opportunities and require institutional strengthening.
