Kathmandu is buzzing with political activity as Nepal gears up for its general elections on March 5. Three major parties—Nepali Congress (NC), CPN-UML, and the rising Rashtriya Swatantra Party (RSP)—unveiled their election manifestos on Thursday, each emphasizing balanced and amicable relations with neighboring countries India and China.
The Nepali Congress, a traditional powerhouse, reaffirmed its longstanding foreign policy principle of friendship with all nations based on equality and mutual respect. The party vowed that Nepal will steer clear of any defense, military, or security conflicts and avoid entanglement in the escalating strategic rivalry between major powers. ‘Relations with our neighbors and friendly nations will be grounded in equality, mutual respect, and advanced through mutual benefit and economic partnership,’ the manifesto stated, underscoring national interests as paramount.
CPN-UML echoed a similar sentiment with its iconic slogan ‘Friendship with all, enmity with none.’ The party committed to strengthening cordial ties and cooperation with neighboring friends while expanding engagement with the broader international community. Under UML leadership, Nepal pledges no ill will toward any neighbor and no actions that harm their interests.
The spotlight, however, fell on the RSP, a new entrant aspiring to lead the next government. The party named former Kathmandu Mayor Balen Shah as its prime ministerial candidate and introduced a fresh foreign policy vision of ‘balanced and dynamic diplomacy.’ RSP aims to transform Nepal from a mere ‘buffer state’ into a ‘vibrant bridge,’ promoting trilateral economic partnerships and regional connectivity, especially with India and China.
Acknowledging the strategic interests of both giants in Nepal amid shifting global power dynamics, RSP advocates for an active and flexible diplomatic approach. This would enable Nepal to capitalize on evolving geopolitics and the rising economies of its neighbors. The manifesto highlights lessons from India’s digital public infrastructure, high-quality infrastructure projects, economic formalization, and industry-service sector coordination over the past decade.
From China, RSP seeks to learn about concessional financing for world-class infrastructure, state-directed development planning, and inter-provincial competition models. As foreign policy, regional balance, and neighborly relations emerge as key election issues, Nepal’s voters face a critical choice in shaping the nation’s global stance.
These manifestos signal a consensus on peaceful neighborhood diplomacy, but subtle differences in approach could define the post-election landscape. With elections approaching, the debate on how Nepal navigates its delicate position between two superpowers intensifies.