EDITORIAL
A country’s foreign policy should be based on the country’s greater national, security, as well as strategic interests rather than the interests of an individual. The country’s foreign policy cannot be changed by one individual on a whim.
Our newly appointed Foreign Minister Dr Bimala Rai Poudel has opined for reviewing the country’s foreign policy. Not odd that every new foreign minister after assuming office constitutes a special commission for reviewing the country’s foreign policy. Perhaps, this is an idea for recruiting some “yes men” and exploiting the government coffer unnecessarily. If counted, there could be more than a dozen reports submitted by different foreign policy review committees constituted by different foreign ministers after they assumed office. All those reports are kept pending in the ministry.
Nepal’s foreign policy is based on the Divine Counsel formulated by Great King Prithivi Narayan Shah. He had explained that Nepal as a yam between the two boulders. He also described that both the neighbours of Nepal are powerful but the southern neighbour as a cunning power and, he further suggested not teasing or betraying the northern power and always remaining alert with the southern neighbour. Still, Nepal’s geopolitical location is as-it-is and the foreign policy principle formulated by the great king is still significant. However, the present-day rulers are trying to play with the basic foreign policy principles. Nepal joining the American MCC club and attempts for SPP membership by annoying our northern neighbour is not only violating the basics of foreign policy but also an off-track from the country’s unchangeable status of non-alignment. Nepal should maintain equidistance relations with the two immediate neighbours. If tried to violate the existing foreign policy priorities, the country may face serious consequences which could be costly for Nepal.
Our Foreign Minister and those in the government, including the Prime Minister and other ruling alliance partners should try to understand this sensitive issue seriously.
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