Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli’s 10-day visit to the United States, beginning on September 20, has multiple objectives. He aims to represent Nepal at the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly and to meet various world leaders, including India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bangladesh’s Chief Advisor Mohammad Yunus, a Nobel Peace Laureate. This visit comes at a time when Oli is leading a coalition government, uniting the Nepali Congress (NC) and the Unified Marxist-Leninist (UML) parties, which has been a significant development in Nepal’s political landscape.
The primary goals of Oli’s visit are to address the global climate crisis, highlighting the impact of climate change on Nepal’s fragile economy. One key example he aims to spotlight is the devastating glacial lake outburst flood in Thame, the birthplace of famed mountaineer Tenzing Norgay. Oli also plans to address the Nepali community in the U.S. and present a keynote speech at Columbia University, focusing on Nepal’s journey toward democracy and economic prosperity.
Oli’s visit has already marked an initial success with his meeting with Indian Prime Minister Modi, which was their first since Oli took office. The two leaders discussed key issues like energy, technology, and trade. Modi reportedly expressed a willingness to visit Nepal soon, a positive sign for the strengthening of bilateral relations. This meeting is seen as significant, given past tensions, especially regarding Nepal’s unilateral decision to raise the issue of the contested border map with India without prior political dialogue.
Oli’s challenge during this visit will be to effectively present Nepal’s case on the global stage regarding climate change and development, especially in light of the criticism he has faced for undermining the rule of law in Nepal. His earlier decision to dissolve the parliament, which the Supreme Court ruled unconstitutional, has raised questions about his governance. Moreover, Nepal’s slow progress in combating corruption and ensuring good governance further complicates his narrative of “Prosperous Nepal, Happy Nepali.”
