World Desk, AnyTV, Kathmandu
Published by: Harendra Chaudhary
Updated Fri, 04 Mar 2022 12:32 PM IST
Summary
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken called Nepal’s Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba before the discussion began at the UN General Assembly. Blinken then said in a tweet that he discussed the attack on Ukraine with Deuba and sought his support on the issue.
Nepal voted in favor of a resolution condemning Russia brought in the United Nations General Assembly against the attack on Ukraine. In South Asia, apart from Nepal, such a stand was only of Maldives. India, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan abstained from voting. Although Afghanistan and Myanmar were formally shown in the list of countries that voted in favor of the resolution, representation in the United Nations has so far gone to governments that are no longer in de facto power there. Otherwise, Myanmar’s military rulers have openly supported Russia, while the ruling Taliban in Afghanistan are said to have better relations with Russia.
Blinken called before voting
Nepal was among 141 countries that voted in favor of the censure motion. Taking part in the discussion ahead of the vote, Nepal’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Amrit Rai said that his country is against the use of force against a sovereign country and the violation of its territorial integrity. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken called Nepal’s Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba before the discussion began at the UN General Assembly. Blinken then said in a tweet that he discussed the attack on Ukraine with Deuba and sought her support on the issue.
Observers have pointed out that during the debate in Nepal on the question of seeking help from the American body Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), it became clear that the Deuba government is inclined towards the US. The impediment to this were the two communist parties involved in the ruling coalition. But after adopting them, the foreign policy of the Deuba government has become completely clear.
The first indication of the Nepal government’s thinking in the Ukraine matter was received only on Monday, when Nepal supported the resolution brought in the United Nations Human Rights Council to condemn the Russian attack on Ukraine. Here too Nepal took a different stand from China and India. China voted against the resolution, while India abstained from voting.
Till now Nepal has kept itself away from voting
Analysts have pointed out that this is a clear change in Nepal’s foreign policy. In 2014, Nepal abstained from voting when a motion of condemnation was brought to the United Nations following the annexation of Crimea to Russia. Till June last year, Nepal’s stance was to walk in balance. Last June, a resolution was introduced in the General Assembly to condemn Myanmar’s military rule. Then Nepal distanced itself from the vote on it.
According to observers, the coming to power of the Deuba government and the subsequent intensified US diplomacy is now showing its effect. Meanwhile, there has also been a change in the stand of the Communist parties, which was evident on the issue of the agreement to take the help of the MCC. Not only did the ruling coalition’s Communist parties of Pushpa Kamal Dahal and Madhav Kumar Nepal support it, but the opposition Communist Party of Nepal (UML) has also given up its opposition.
Expansion
Nepal voted in favor of a resolution condemning Russia brought in the United Nations General Assembly against the attack on Ukraine. In South Asia, apart from Nepal, such a stand was only of Maldives. India, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan abstained from voting. Although Afghanistan and Myanmar were formally shown in the list of countries that voted in favor of the resolution, representation in the United Nations has so far gone to governments that are no longer in de facto power there. Otherwise, Myanmar’s military rulers have openly supported Russia, while the ruling Taliban in Afghanistan are said to have better relations with Russia.
Blinken called before voting
Nepal was among 141 countries that voted in favor of the censure motion. Taking part in the discussion ahead of the vote, Nepal’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Amrit Rai said that his country is against the use of force against a sovereign country and the violation of its territorial integrity. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken called Nepal’s Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba before the discussion began at the UN General Assembly. Blinken then said in a tweet that he discussed the attack on Ukraine with Deuba and sought her support on the issue.
Observers have pointed out that during the debate in Nepal on the question of seeking help from the American body Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), it became clear that the Deuba government is inclined towards the US. The impediment to this were the two communist parties involved in the ruling coalition. But after adopting them, the foreign policy of the Deuba government has become completely clear.
The first indication of the Nepal government’s thinking in the Ukraine matter was received only on Monday, when Nepal supported the resolution brought in the United Nations Human Rights Council to condemn the Russian attack on Ukraine. Here too Nepal took a different stand from China and India. China voted against the resolution, while India abstained from voting.
Till now Nepal has kept itself away from voting
Analysts have pointed out that this is a clear change in Nepal’s foreign policy. In 2014, Nepal abstained from voting when a motion of condemnation was brought to the United Nations following the annexation of Crimea to Russia. Till June last year, Nepal’s stance was to walk in balance. Last June, a resolution was introduced in the General Assembly to condemn Myanmar’s military rule. Then Nepal distanced itself from the vote on it.
According to observers, the coming to power of the Deuba government and the subsequent intensified US diplomacy is now showing its effect. Meanwhile, there has also been a change in the stand of the Communist parties, which was evident on the issue of the agreement to take the help of the MCC. Not only did the ruling coalition’s Communist parties of Pushpa Kamal Dahal and Madhav Kumar Nepal support it, but the opposition Communist Party of Nepal (UML) has also given up its opposition.