Foreign relations of Nepal
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{{Politics of Nepal}}
Nepal has traditionally maintained a non-aligned policy and enjoys friendly relations with neighboring countries, especially [[India]] and [[PRC|China]]. Constitutionally, foreign policy is to be guided by “the principles of the [[United Nations Charter]], nonalignment, Panchsheel [five principles of peaceful coexistence], [[international law]] and the value of world peace.” In practice, foreign policy has not been directed toward projecting influence internationally but toward preserving autonomy and addressing domestic economic and security issues. Nepal’s most substantive international relations are perhaps with international economic institutions, such as the [[Asian Development Bank]], the [[International Monetary Fund]], the [[World Bank]], and the [[South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation]], a multilateral economic development association. Nepal also has strong bilateral relations with major providers of economic and military aid, such as [[France]], [[Germany]], [[Japan]], [[Switzerland]], the [[United States]], and particularly the [[United Kingdom]], with whom military ties date to the nineteenth century. The country also maintains strong political relations with India and China, usually attempting to balance one against the other. However, relations with India are fraught with trade and border disputes and Indian suspicions that Nepalese and Pakistani rebels use Nepal as a haven to attack India. Relations with Bhutan have been strained since 1992 over the nationality and possible repatriation of refugees from Bhutan.<ref>http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/profiles/Nepal.pdf This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.</ref>
==The People's Republic of China and India==
{{main|Indo-Nepal relations}}
As a small, landlocked country wedged between two larger and far stronger powers, [[Nepal]] maintains good relations with both [[People's Republic of China|China]] (People's Republic of China) and [[India]]. Because of strong cultural, religious, linguistic, and economic ties, Nepal's association with India traditionally has been close. India and Nepal restored trade relations in 1990, after a break caused by India's security concerns over Nepal's relations with the PRC. A bilateral trade treaty was signed in 1996. Nepalese can freely travel and do business in India without visa. Nepal's economy has also benefited from the surge in [[India's economy]]. Apart from [[Bhutan]], Nepal is the only country which has open borders with India. Nepal formally established relations with the PRC in 1955, and since then their bilateral relations have generally been very good.
==Relations with the European Union==
{{main|European Union-Nepal relations}}
==Pakistan==
{{main|Nepal-Pakistan relations}}
The '''bilateral relations''' between the [[Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal]] and the [[Islamic Republic of Pakistan]] were fully established between 1962 and 1963.<ref name="O">[http://countrystudies.us/nepal/66.htm Nepal - Pakistan relations]</ref> Both nations have since sought to expand trade, strategic and military cooperation.
==The State of Israel==
{{main|Israel-Nepal relations}}
'''Israel-Nepal relations''', first established in 1960, are based on mutual security concerns.<ref name=VISIT>[http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/About+the+Ministry/MFA+Spokesman/2007/Visit++of+Nepalese+Minister+for+Foreign+Affairs+12-Jul-2007.htm Visit to Israel of Honorable Mrs. Sahana Pradhan, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Nepal] Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs</ref>
[[Image:King_of_Nepal_1958.jpg|thumb|right|Mahendra of Nepal (second from left) in a 1958 visit to Israel's [[Weizmann Institute of Science]].]]
[[Bishweshwar Prasad Koirala]], [[Prime Minister of Nepal]] from 1959 to 1960, had a strongly pro-Israel foreign policy. [[Mahendra of Nepal|King Mahendra]] visited Israel in 1963 and maintained Koirala's special relationship.<ref name=BEGINNING>Abadi, Jacob. ''Israel's Quest for Recognition and Acceptance in Asia: Garrison State Diplomacy'', 2004. Page 318.</ref>
==Relations with the United Kingdom==
Relations between the UK and Nepal have historically been friendly and there have been close links between the Royal Families, although relations deteriorated when the King took power in 2005. A treaty of friendship was signed in 1923. The UK is highly regarded in Nepal. This is through historical ties, development assistance and long term support in the struggle for democratic peace in Nepal. Also of note is that through the recruitment of [[Royal Gurkha Rifles|Gurkha soldiers]] by the [[British Army]] since the 19th century, Nepal has had links with the [[United Kingdom]].
==Relations with Germany==
Nepal also enjoys especially friendly ties with the [[Federal Republic of Germany]], which is a major export market for Nepalese goods. Germany officially recognizes Nepal as a priority country for German development assistance and academic exchanges<ref>http://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/www/en/laenderinfos/laender/laender_ausgabe_html?land_id=120&type_id=14</ref>.
==Relations with the United States==
{{main|Nepal-United States relations}}
'''Nepal-United States relations''' are [[bilateral relations]] between [[Nepal]] and the [[United States]].
The United States established official relations with Nepal in 1947 and opened its Kathmandu Embassy in 1959. Relations between the two countries have always been strong. U.S. policy objectives toward Nepal center on helping Nepal build a peaceful, prosperous, and democratic society.
==Multilateral relations==
Nepal has played an active role in the formation of the economic development-oriented [[South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation]] (SAARC) and is the site of its secretariat. On international issues, Nepal follows a nonaligned policy and often votes with the [[Non-Aligned Movement]] in the [[United Nations]]. Nepal participates in a number of UN specialized agencies and is a member of the [[World Bank]], [[International Monetary Fund]], [[Colombo Plan]], and the [[Asian Development Bank]].
==Human rights issues==
Police forces sometimes use excessive force in quelling violent demonstrations, or demonstrations that may upset 'friendly countries'. In addition, there have been reports of torture under detention and widespread reports of custodial abuse. In 2000, the government established the [[Human Rights Commission (Nepal)|Human Rights Commission]], a government-appointed commission with a mandate to investigate human rights violations. To date, the Commission has investigated 51 complaints.
Some restrictions continue on freedom of expression. Trafficking in women and child labour remain serious problems. [[Discrimination]] against women and lower [[caste]]s is prevalent.
==International disputes==
A joint border commission continues to work on small disputed sections of the border with India; India has instituted a stricter border regime to restrict transit of Maoist insurgents
==Illicit drugs==
Illicit production of [[cannabis (drug)|cannabis]] for domestic and international drug markets continues to ask as an international problem, as does rumours that the country operates as a transit point for opiates from Southeast Asia to the West
==States with which Nepal has established diplomatic relations==
{| class="wikitable"
! bgcolor="#FFEBAD"|[[State]]
! bgcolor="#FFEBAD"|Date of Establishment of Relations
|-
| [[United Kingdom]]
| 1816
|-
| [[United States|United States of America]]
| April 25, 1947
|-
| [[India]]
| June 13, 1947
|-
| [[France]]
| April 20, 1949
|-
| [[People’s Republic of China]]
| August 1, 1955
|-
| [[Union of Soviet Socialist Republics]] (succeeded by [[Russia]])
| July 20, 1956
|-
| [[Japan]]
| July 28, 1956
|-
| [[Sri Lanka]]
| July 1, 1957
|-
| [[Egypt]]
| July 16, 1957
|-
| Federal Republic of [[Germany]]
| April 4, 1958
|-
| [[Austria]]
| August 15, 1959
|-
| [[Italy]]
| August 31, 1959
|-
| [[Switzerland]]
| November 10, 1959
|-
| [[Poland]]
| November 25, 1959
|-
| [[SFR Yugoslavia]] (succeeded by [[Serbia]])
| 1959
|-
| [[Malaysia]]
| January 1, 1960
|-
| [[Greece]]
| February 2, 1960
|-
| [[Philippines]]
| February 12, 1960
|-
| [[Australia]]
| February 15, 1960
|-
| [[Myanmar]] (Burma)
| March 19, 1960
|-
| [[Pakistan]]
| March 20, 1960
|-
| [[Netherlands]]
| April 2, 1960
|-
| [[Laos]]
| May 20, 1960
|-
| [[Israel]]
| June 1, 1960
|-
| [[Sweden]]
| June 10, 1960
|-
| [[Thailand]]
| November 30, 1960
|-
| [[Indonesia]]
| December 25, 1960
|-
| [[Mongolia]]
| January 5, 1961
|-
| [[Hungary]]
| January 15, 1961
|-
| [[New Zealand]]
| May 1961
|-
| [[Afghanistan]]
| July 1, 1961
|-
| [[Chile]]
| 1962
|-
| [[Argentina]]
| January 1, 1962
|-
| [[Turkey]]
| November 15, 1962
|-
| [[Lebanon]]
| August 18, 1963
|-
| [[Belgium]]
| August 19, 1963
|-
| [[Iran]]
| December 14, 1964
|-
| [[Canada]]
| January 18, 1965
|-
| [[Jordan]]
| August 20, 1965
|-
| [[Denmark]]
| December 15, 1967
|-
| [[Bulgaria]]
| April 15, 1968
|-
| [[Romania]]
| April 20, 1968
|-
| [[Algeria]]
| April 29, 1968
|-
| [[Spain]]
| May 13, 1968
|-
| [[Iraq]]
| October 30, 1968
|-
| [[Singapore]]
| March 25, 1969
|-
| [[Sudan]]
| July 11, 1969
|-
| [[Syria]]
| February 26, 1970
|-
| [[Ethiopia]]
| April 15, 1971
|-
| [[Kuwait]]
| February 25, 1972
|-
| [[Bangladesh]]
| April 8, 1972
|-
| [[Albania]]
| May 23, 1972
|-
| [[Norway]]
| January 26, 1973
|-
| [[North Korea]]
| May 15, 1974
|-
| [[South Korea]]
| May 15, 1974
|-
| [[Finland]]
| September 21, 1974
|-
| [[Tanzania]]
| January 10, 1975
|-
| [[Morocco]]
| February 18, 1975
|-
| [[Cuba]]
| March 25, 1975
|-
| [[Cambodia]]
| April 18, 1975
|-
| [[Vietnam|Viet Nam]]
| May 15, 1975
|-
| [[Kenya]]
| June 3, 1975
|-
| [[Mexico]]
| November 25, 1975
|-
| [[Luxembourg]]
| November 27, 1975
|-
| [[Nigeria]]
| December 20, 1975
|-
| [[Libya]]
| December 30, 1975
|-
| [[Peru]]
| January 28, 1976
|-
| [[Brazil]]
| February 7, 1976
|-
| [[Portugal]]
| September 1, 1976
|-
| [[Bahrain]]
| January 13, 1977
|-
| [[Oman]]
| January 21, 1977
|-
| [[Qatar]]
| January 21, 1977
|-
| [[United Arab Emirates]]
| January 22, 1977
|-
| [[Saudi Arabia]]
| March 15, 1977
|-
| [[Costa Rica]]
| August 16, 1977
|-
| [[Maldives]]
| August 1, 1980
|-
| [[Cyprus]]
| August 18, 1980
|-
| [[Mauritius]]
| February 12, 1981
|-
| [[Iceland]]
| May 25, 1981
|-
| [[Bhutan]]
| June 3, 1983
|-
| [[Holy See]] ([[Vatican City]])
| September 10, 1983
|-
| [[Malta]]
| September 25, 1983
|-
| [[Brunei]]
| February 3, 1984
|-
| [[Panama]]
| February 15, 1984
|-
| [[Tunisia]]
| April 14, 1984
|-
| [[Somalia]]
| October 24, 1984
|-
| [[Zimbabwe]]
| November 27, 1984
|-
| [[Gabon]]
| June 17, 1985
|-
| [[Yemen]]
| December 25, 1985
|-
| [[Fiji]]
| June 12, 1986
|-
| [[Zambia]]
| September 10, 1986
|-
| [[Mozambique]]
| September 30, 1986
|-
| [[Nicaragua]]
| October 5, 1986
|-
| [[Venezuela]]
| April 28, 1987
|-
| [[Colombia]]
| May 7, 1987
|-
| [[Bolivia]]
| May 21, 1987
|-
| [[Estonia]]
| April 20, 1992
|-
| [[Latvia]]
| April 20, 1992
|-
| [[Ukraine]]
| January 15, 1993
|-
| [[Armenia]]
| March 26, 1993
|-
| [[Kyrgyzstan]]
| March 26, 1993
|-
| [[Belarus]]
| July 19, 1993
|-
| [[Moldova]]
| July 20, 1993
|-
| [[Czech Republic|Czechia]]
| March 2, 1994
|-
| [[Slovakia]]
| March 4, 1994
|-
| [[Guyana]]
| June 22, 1994
|-
| [[South Africa]]
| July 28, 1994
|-
| [[Azerbaijan]]
| February 28, 1995
|-
| [[Seychelles]]
| October 10, 1996
|-
| [[Slovenia]]
| December 2, 1997
|-
| [[Republic of Macedonia|Macedonia]]
| January 6, 1998
|-
| [[Croatia]]
| February 6, 1998
|-
| [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]]
| August 19, 1999
|-
| [[Bosnia and Herzegovina]]
| January 12, 2000
|-
| [[Lithuania]]
| February 8, 2005
|-
| [[San Marino]]
| August 10, 2005
|-
| [[Tajikistan]]
| September 13, 2005
|-
| [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]]
| September 22, 2005
|-
| [[Turkmenistan]]
| October 17, 2005
|-
| [[Ecuador]]
| June 21, 2006
|-
| [[Paraguay]]
| August 2, 2006
|-
| [[Guatemala]]
| August 9, 2006
|-
| [[Honduras]]
| August 16, 2006
|-
| [[Vanuatu]]
| September 19, 2006
|-
| [[Democratic Republic of the Congo]]
| September 22, 2006
|-
| [[Andorra]]
| September 22, 2006
|-
| [[Haiti]]
| May 23, 2007
|-
| [[Saint Vincent and the Grenadines]]
| September 27, 2007
|-
| [[Dominican Republic]]
| September 28, 2007
|}
Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Nepal [http://www.mofa.gov.np/relations.htm]
==See also==
* [[Nepal]]
* [[Nepalese diplomatic missions overseas]]
* [[1950 Indo-Nepal Treaty of Peace and Friendship]]
* [[List of diplomatic missions in Nepal]]
==References==
<references />
==External links==
*[http://www.mofa.gov.np/ Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Nepal]
*[http://www.un.int/nepal Permanent Mission of the Kingdom of Nepal to the United Nations]
*[http://www. European Union Culture Center]
*[http://www.kathmandu.diplo.de/de/Startseite.html Embassy of Federal Repuplic of Germany, Kathmandu]
*[http://www.ngcci.org/ Nepal German chanber of Commerce and Industry]
*[http://nepal.usembassy.gov/ United States Embassy in Kathmandu]
[[Category:Foreign relations by country|Nepal]]
[[Category:Foreign relations of Nepal| ]]
{{Foreign relations of Nepal}}