Foreign policy strategies of Nepal between China and India: bandwagon or hedging

Abstract

Nepal, a landlocked country situated between two nuclear states, has found bandwagoning with either China or India to be an impractical option. In the current scenario, Nepal has opted for a trend of hedging with both neighbors while adhering to a non-alignment foreign policy. Nepal aims to seek economic and infrastructure development opportunities from Beijing through initiatives like the Belt and Road Initiative, which could help overcome geopolitical challenges. However, India is concerned about Nepal's growing relations with China, viewing it as a significant threat to India's interests in Nepal. Nepal remains committed to the principles of non-alignment in its foreign policy objectives. India perceives Nepal's current trend of hedging as a potential path toward future bandwagoning with China, given China's superior capabilities compared to India.