Kathmandu, April 30: A shift in diplomatic protocol appears to be emerging under the current government led by Prime Minister Balendra Sha, as visiting foreign dignitaries are no longer assured meetings with top political leadership.
Unlike in the past, Shah has not met visiting US Assistant Secretary of State Samir Paul Kapur, who was in Nepal on April 20 for a three-day visit.
Now, US President Donald Trump’s Special Envoy for South and Central Asia, and Ambassador to India, Sirgio Gor, is arriving in Kathmandu on Thursday evening, but a meeting with the prime minister has not been confirmed.
Gor is considered a close Trump aide and holds a higher diplomatic profile than Assistant Secretary Kapur. He has reportedly requested meetings with the prime minister for Friday or Saturday, but no final decision has been made by the Prime Minister’s Office as of Wednesday evening. During his regional tour, Gor has already met leaders in Bangladesh, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, and Maldives.
If the meeting does not take place, Gor is expected to meet Finance Minister Dr Swarnim Wagle, Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal, Foreign Secretary Amrit Bahadur Rai, and other officials.
Shah is reportedly maintaining a policy of meeting only ministers or higher-level officials from visiting foreign governments. Earlier, he held a collective meeting with ambassadors on April 8.
The US Embassy in Kathmandu has expressed interest in deepening economic cooperation and strengthening bilateral ties with Nepal’s new government. #Nepal
