Kathmandu. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has stated that Nepal is an important partner for the United States in the Indo-Pacific region.

During a joint press conference held after a bilateral meeting with Nepal’s Foreign Minister NP Saud in Washington, D.C., U.S. Secretary of State Blinken said, ‘Nepal is a very important partner in the Indo-Pacific region today.’ The United States has named the region that encompasses the Pacific Ocean and the Indian Ocean as the Indo-Pacific and is collaborating in the region.

The United States formulated the Indo-Pacific strategy in 2019. In 2018, then-Foreign Minister Pradeep Kumar Gyawali had raised the issue of the Indo-Pacific during his visit to the United States. Nepal’s government has stated that it will not participate in any security-related issues under this strategy. The controversy escalated when the United States pressured Nepal to pass the State Partnership Program (SPP) under this strategy, and after the dispute and opposition, the then Deuba government had decided not to participate in it. However, the United States has consistently referred to Nepal as a real friend of the Indo-Pacific region.

U.S. Secretary of State Blinken also mentioned the 76-year-old diplomatic relations between the United States and Nepal. He said, ‘We are working together to ensure that the region remains a free, open, secure, and prosperous space. In many ways, Nepal has provided leadership not only in the regional context but also in international organizations in the Pacific and Indian Oceans.’

He also mentioned Nepal’s efforts to send peacekeeping troops to help people in conflict zones around the world. ‘Our peoples are working to deepen our relationship in various ways, beyond security, economic, investment, market access, food security, and information technology,’ he said. Blinken also expressed America’s solidarity with Nepal, considering it a profound and strong relationship in many areas.

He said, ‘We have sent deep condolences to the families of the 10 Nepali students who were killed by Hamas in Israel. We feel their deep loss, just as we feel the loss of many by Hamas.’

Foreign Minister NP Saud, during the joint press conference, also mentioned the long and strong relationship between Nepal and the United States. He said, ‘The United States is a development partner for Nepal. The United States has provided assistance in many areas.’ He urged for more American support in trade and investment, market access, food security, and Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) reinstatement. The conversation also revolved around the $500 million Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) project implementation in Nepal, and the additional U.S. assistance related to the 10 Nepali deaths during the Hamas attack in October.

Following the meeting, the Nepali Embassy in Washington, D.C. issued a statement that mentioned the discussion of bilateral interests and mutual agreements between both countries in various regional and international issues.

‘Both sides expressed satisfaction with the current state of bilateral relations and committed to the expansion and deepening of engagement in the areas of mutual interest in the multilateral and regional contexts,’ said the statement issued by the Embassy.

After the meeting, the U.S. State Department Spokesperson, Matthew Miller, stated that the meeting had focused on the discussion of the MCC and furthering the previous commitments to build critical infrastructure, increase electricity access, and support cross-border electricity trade.

Miller also expressed appreciation for the partnership of more than 60 years between Nepal and the U.S. Peace Corps volunteers in Nepal and the agreement by both ministers to provide more than $125 million in loans to small and medium-sized enterprises in Nepal through the American banks.”

Nepal Embassy of Washington states that Foreign Minister NP Saud held a meeting on Sunday with the US Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken at the Department of State. In a meeting Various agendas of bilateral relations including development cooperation, trade and market access, investment and technology, agriculture, and food security featured in the discussion. The two leaders also exchanged views on regional and international issues of common concern. Details will follow in the Press Release.

A mont ago on the occasion to UNGA 78th session, Prime Minister Mr. Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ addressed the Democracy Delivers program hosted by the USAID, the Rockefeller Foundation, and governance in their respective countries. The Foreign Minister thanked Mr. Pompeo for his continued support for Nepal and mentioned that he is looking forward to welcoming him in Nepal in the future. Ambassador Khatri accompanied the Foreign Minister in the meeting.

On the occasion, of highlighting Nepal’s achievements in democratic governance, the Prime Minister expressed that a prosperous and economically strong Nepal can function as a more robust and inclusive democracy and the Ford Foundation on 20th September 2023 on the sidelines of the 78th UN General Assembly in New York. The opening session of the program was chaired by USAID Administrator Samantha Powers, and the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke at the occasion.

On the other hand, Foreign Minister Mr. N. P. Saud had a courtesy meeting with former US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on 20th September 2023 on the sidelines of the 78th UN General Assembly in New York. During the meeting, both leaders shared experiences on democratic governance in their respective countries. The Foreign Minister thanked Mr. Pompeo for his continued support for Nepal and mentioned that he is looking forward to welcoming him to Nepal in the future. Ambassador Khatri accompanied the Foreign Minister in the meeting.

PM Prachanda had a meeting with the President of the Socialist Democratic Republic of Sri Lanka Ranil Wickremesinghe today #UNGA78 The discussion was focused on further strengthening bilateral relations and multilateral cooperation between the two countries.

On the sidelines of the #UNGA78, Foreign Minister @NPSaudnc had a meeting with Luminiţa- Teodora Odobescu, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Romania. The two Ministers exchanged views on promoting bilateral and multilateral cooperation.