Involvement of Major Powers in Nepal Since the 1990s: Implications for India

Nepal being a poor landlocked country with a fragile and unstable political system, major external powers providing aid and assistance to Nepal tend to carry an influence on domestic politics, foreign policy, and the socio-economic agenda of the government. These powers have divergent interests and do not coordinate their policies towards Nepal. While some external forces like the United States and China have hidden political and strategic interests, some others like the European Union are engaged in humanitarian issues. There is no unanimity amongst them regarding what kind of political transformation they should endorse or disown to find a solution to the decade-long conflict. Thus, instead of playing a constructive role, these external forces sometimes complicate the process of peace and reconciliation taking shape in Nepal today.