By Our Reporter
High-ranking officials from the USA have been frequently visiting Nepal in recent weeks. Similarly, a powerful official from the EU was also in Nepal while a British high-level delegation is scheduled to visit Nepal soon.
Last week, the Administrator of USAID Samantha Power arrived in Nepal on a two-day official visit.
This was another high-level visit from the USA to Nepal since the Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs, Victoria Nuland visited the country in January end.
European Commissioner for International Partnerships Jutta Urpilainen was also in Nepal when Power arrived in Kathmandu. Urpilainen also met leaders including Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’.
Likewise, Afreen Akhter, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State in the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs (SCA) for Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Bhutan, and the Maldives as well as the Office of Security and Transnational Affairs, arrived in Nepal on a two-day official visit to Nepal this week.
Akhtar’s is the third high-level visit from the United States in three weeks.
Meanwhile, the special envoy of the President of the Republic of Korea (RoK) Sung Min Jang also visited Nepal this week.
Sung also paid a courtesy call to Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ on Tuesday.
A delegation led by special envoy Sung Min Jang held a meeting at the Prime Minister’s official residence in Baluwatar.
These visits have increased the fear of a clash of geopolitical interests in the tiny Himalayan country. Obviously, these visits intended to control the allegedly growing influence of China in Nepal, especially after the collapse of the NC-led coalition, although all the visiting officials denied any link between their visit and geopolitical interest. Instead, they announced packages of financial support for Nepal. Others argue that the visits were to prevent a communist leader from becoming the new President of Nepal as Nepal is holding the election for the president on March 9.
During Power’s visit, USAID announced to provide up to US$58.5 million (Rs. 7.72 billion at current exchange rates) to advance democratic progress in Nepal, subject to the availability of funds.
The administrator of the USAID, Samantha Power has announced the support at a programme in Lalitpur.
The investments announced included up to $20 million to strengthen inclusive democracy and prosperity in Nepal by supporting provincial and local governments to deliver public services in a more fiscally transparent and accountable manner.
Power held a high-level meeting with Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Bimala Rai Paudyal.
Power also called on Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda.
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