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A vector signifies a quantity with both magnitude and direction in physics. A quantity must adhere to specific combination criteria in order to be considered a vector even if it has magnitude and direction. A state’s multi-vector foreign policy strategy serves as a foundation for a flexible approach in its interactions with rival international entities in order to benefit from alliances or partnerships that have both economic and military benefits. Historically, Nepal adopted this strategy for a series of asymmetrical bargaining diplomatic devices in order to deal with competing rival regional powers China, India, the USA and the Western nations over the conditions of cooperation in socioeconomic developments, including infrastructures for industrialization and modernization of its society. Nepal’s multi-vector foreign policy leads toward an approach to international affairs that promotes cordial and predictable relationships with all nations. This approach is different from the one in which governments strengthen their relations with one country while disregarding others at the same time. The multi-vector foreign policy strategy may win helpful collaboration of all nations with an interest in it. This is the core of the strategy. Nepal is on the brink of circumstances where it has to adopt a multi-vector foreign policy, interacting favorably not just with its powerful neighbors but also with the US, the EU, and the rest of the world. Even the high-level reports and policy papers on Nepal’s foreign policy and diplomatic behaviors from 1996, 2006, International Relations and Human Rights Committee (IRHRC)-2011, 2017 through 2020/021 have alarmed the strategic crises on all fronts. It may sound newer now, but its components are found in practices that can be traced back to Nepal’s cold war-era non-alignment policy. Mutual respect for each other’s territorial integrity and sovereignty, non-interference in each other’s internal affairs, respect for mutual equality, non-aggression and peaceful settlement of disputes, cooperation for mutual benefit, abiding faith in the Charter of the United Nations, and value of world peace have been some of the principal foreign policy features of Nepal. The prospect of strategic autonomy contains fundamental components of multi-vector policy. At the advent of the multi-polarity and fluidity of international relations, the multi-vector foreign policy rules prominently since it favors neither bipolar dilemma nor unipolar despotism. Nepal’s foreign policy now exclusively relies on clauses on the Constitution of Nepal (2015). The Article 5.1, Article 50.4 and Article 51 determine foreign policy priorities, national interests and national policies of Nepal. Additionally, Nepal focuses on pertinent chances for collaboration within the bilateral and multilateral partnership, as required by our national objectives of foreign policy, having recognized economic growth as our country's top priority. Nepal’s geostrategic position necessitates extensive and multifaceted interaction with its neighbors on government-to-government, people-to-people and business to business levels. Without falling under any country-specific category, Nepal needs economic assistance of India, the connectivity infrastructure provided by the China-led Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), as well as a significant amount of funding from the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the Department for International Development (DFID), the International Finance Corporation (IFC), and the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA). The Foreign Policy 2077 (2020) focuses on soft power, multifaceted connections with neighbors, Nepali diaspora, opinions on updating bilateral agreements, settling border issues, track-two diplomacy, public diplomacy, labor diplomacy, and climate change. Affirming the existential priority of the nonalignment policy, it attempts to define its politico-diplomatic and economic stance in an altered geopolitical, regional, and global environment. This prescribes Nepal to increase opportunities for multidimensional connectivity with its neighbors, including through the infrastructural development which helps Nepal attain the LDC graduation. Continuation to find new areas of cooperation motivated by a common desire to gain access to technology is a must. These areas solidify Nepal’s relationships with regional and global powers through the exchange of high-level visits, the development of people-to-people ties, and building of trust and confidence between nations. Nepal’s novel foreign policy and diplomacy must be based upon the strong state power, vibrant bilateral and multilateral diplomacy, and a framework based on a pragmatic and non-ideological foundation. Multi-vectorism, in practice, sets the goals to create the relational power that enables a weaker state to lessen the difficulties of independence and neutrality while interacting in an asymmetrical manner with comparatively stronger powers. Nepal needs to discourage regional players like China and India from cultivating, developing, and reestablishing a sphere of privileged interests in its internal and foreign affairs. Deep engagement with international and regional society can be possible only by adopting policy goals, increasing space and process of interacting with the states, encircling it in a web of persistent interactions with long-term goals of strategic and economic incorporation. Lately, the issues of climate change and its impacts have massively drawn policy attraction. However, the sustainable development goals and forums for landlocked states can drive Nepal to identify the relevance of Track II Diplomacy for mitigating and eliminating challenges of its strategic position as global order shifts in an unparalleled manner. It has emboldened Nepal’s foreign policy toward major powers approaching the global community with sustained norms of non-aligned policy at unprecedented circumstance in humanitarian crises which may force it to resort to populism or protectionism while dealing with the great powers. Having said that, the multi-vector foreign policy of Nepal can resolve the most challenging issues of its foreign policy by increasing engagement with its neighbors, regional powers and great powers. This policy enhances Nepal’s national interests and confirms its commitments toward multilateral and regional forums thereby boosting economic diplomacy, labor diplomacy and public diplomacy through promotion of soft-power. Nepal has to reassess the philosophical foundations of its foreign policy. In addition, cultivating the belief that by encouraging great power involvement in regional institutions rather than domestic matters, Nepal will be able to increase strategic interdependence of rival nations, making direct confrontation prohibitively expensive.

US Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland on Monday laid out the key issues that America wants to work on with the Pushpa Kamal Dahal-led government. The top State Department official arrived in Kathmandu on Sunday evening as part of her trip to Nepal, India, Sri Lanka, and Qatar. On Monday, she held separate meetings with Prime Minister Dahal, Foreign Minister Bimala Rai Poudyal, CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli, and Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba. The meetings revolved around the topics of US-Nepal bilateral partnership, Nepal’s transitional justice process, and transparency, among others. Speaking to the media later in the day, Nuland said the US wants to enhance long-standing partnership to support Nepal’s economic development. “The US wants to see Nepal as a strong economic power, I am excited to go home and discuss in Washington what happened here in Nepal,” she added. In her meeting with Prime Minister Dahal, the first agenda under discussion was a smooth implementation of projects under the US’ Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Compact: construction of transmission line and road upgradation. “We, of course, discussed the next step in finalizing the MCC projects,” said Nuland. Nepal’s parliament endorsed the MCC Nepal Compact in February last year amid protests from some fringe parties on the left. The projects are due to enter their execution phase in August, and the US wants assurance from the Dahal government that they are implemented without obstructions. Despite parliamentary ratification of the compact, some elements are still trying to obstruct its progress. There have been reports about protests in areas where the transmission line under the MCC is to be constructed. Another issue that figured in the meeting between the US official and top Nepali leaders was the long-drawn-out transitional justice process. According to Nuland, they discussed the transitional justice bill, which is under deliberation. The US and other Western powers are of the view that the transitional justice process should be victim-centric. They are against the idea of granting blanket amnesty on cases of serious human rights violations. “The US is ready to provide support to implement the TRC (Truth and Reconciliation Commission) laws,” said Nuland. The US official also took up the issue of investment climate in Nepal. She told senior government and political party leaders that US investors are eager to invest in Nepal, provided there is a conducive environment. Corruption in Nepal remains a key concern for the US when it comes to building a trustworthy investment climate. The Joe Biden administration has come up with the first-ever United States Strategy on Countering Corruption aimed at elevating the fight against corruption, not only at home but also abroad. Foreign visits of top Biden officials are also aimed at enhancing US partnership on global issues, such as the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, the state of democracy, and the threat of cyber attacks. Nuland said she and Nepali leaders discussed ways to enhance partnership to foster democracy in Nepal. She said the US was ready to provide technical support to Nepal in the field of cybersecurity. Asked about the growing US-China geopolitical rivalry, Nuland advised Nepal to maintain good relations with all neighbors. “We welcome Nepal having a good relationship with all its neighbors,” she said. But while forging economic partnership with neighbors, she said, making a veiled reference to China, that Nepal should pay attention “to protect its sovereignty, ensure that it is good for Nepal, there is no corruption and everything is transparent”. Nuland refrained from making any comments on China’s protest against the MCC. She said the Biden administration was engaging more with China.

Medical experts have warned that consumption of trans fat is harmful for health. The proportion of chronic heart disease due to trans fatty acid intake is 4.38 percent in Nepal, the World Health Organization has reported. Five billion people globally remain unprotected from harmful trans fat, a new status report from the UN health organization has found, increasing their risk of heart disease and death. Though a number of people are suffering from chronic heart diseases in the country they are unaware of trans fat and the health risks associated with it. “Nepali people are not serious about the consumption of trans fat and its health risk. Public has ignored it,” says Dr Sachin Dhungel, senior consultant cardiologist at Gautam Buddha Community Heart Hospital, Butwal. Trans fats are artificial compounds, mostly formed through an industrial process. These fats are produced by adding hydrogen in vegetable oil. It helps the oil to become solid at room temperature and has a long shelf life. Some meat and dairy products also have a small amount of naturally occurring trans fats. The WHO has said that industrially produced trans fats or trans-fatty acids are commonly found in packaged foods, baked goods, cooking oils and spreads. They are mostly found in processed and baked items such as cakes, breads, cookies, pizza, fried foods, French fries, doughnuts and fried chicken, biscuits and rolls, instant noodles etc. “These food items are easily available and people are influenced by lucrative advertisements. The taste of the foods prepared in the oil is enhanced, luring people to consume them,” says Prof Uma Koirala, nutritionist. Instead of consuming junk and processed food items, she suggests eating homemade food items. She also advises against eating foodstuff cooked in oil that has been repeatedly heated, as it increases bad cholesterol in the body. “Trans fat is liquid oils turned into solid fats during food processing. Trans fat deals a double whammy to cholesterol, by increasing LDL (bad cholesterol) and decreasing HDL (healthy cholesterol),” adds Koirala. Medical experts say trans fat in foods deposit in veins and could create blockage in the long run, which in turn raises the risk of coronary heart diseases, stroke, cancer and type two diabetes. Nepal Burden of Disease 2019 study reports that cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) were the leading cause of deaths, with 24 percent of total deaths attributed to cardiovascular diseases. The proportion of deaths attributable to CVDs was 26.8 percent in males and 20.7 percent in females. Trans fat intake is responsible for up to 500,000 premature deaths from coronary heart disease each year around the world, according to WHO. “Trans fat helps in increasing cholesterol level and forms plaque, narrowing the blood vessels. When there is a blockage in the blood vessels, it impacts the function of the heart. The blockage can rupture the vessels and cause heart attack and stroke. People are even under the risk of paralysis,” says Dr Dhungel. He adds at least 25 patients with high blood pressure, cholesterol level, and heart attack are visiting the Butwal based hospital daily. The health risk is more in people over 40 but people below 40 are also suffering from high blood pressure, high cholesterol and heart problems because of the consumption of foods rich in trans fat, say doctors. Since WHO first called for the global elimination of industrially produced trans fat in 2018–with an elimination target set for 2023–population coverage of best-practice policies has increased almost six-fold. Forty-three countries have now implemented best-practice policies for tackling trans fat in food, with 2.8 billion people protected globally. Despite substantial progress, this still leaves five billion people worldwide at risk from trans fat’s devastating health impacts with the global goal for its total elimination in 2023 remaining unattainable at this time. Situation in Nepal There is a wide use of trans fat in food items produced in Nepal. Also the consumption of such foods is high here. The government has approved the Multisectoral Action Plan for Prevention and Control of Non-communicable Diseases (2021–2025), which includes a trans fatty acid target of two percent to be implemented by 2023. The WHO has said that currently, 9 of the 16 countries with the highest estimated proportion of coronary heart disease deaths caused by trans fat intake do not have a best-practice policy. These countries are Nepal, Pakistan, Bhutan, Australia, Azerbaijan, Ecuador, Egypt, Iran, and the Republic of Korea. To achieve the goal, the WHO organized a capacity building workshop on eliminating trans fatty acid in Nepal in July 2022. Analysis of trans fatty acid in commonly consumed foods has been completed, providing further evidence for the need to introduce trans fatty acid regulations in Nepal. The best way for preventing the health risk is to avoid eating food items prepared in trans fat. “We must replace oils containing high trans fats with healthier options. Mustard, sunflower and soya based oils are better,” advised Koirala. Fat is necessary for health. It helps in metabolism. The daily intake of oil such as in cooking vegetables and in lentils is healthy. It helps in regular metabolism. But an intake of trans fat will have an adverse effect on one’s health. The government has made policies but their implementation is lacking. The market must be regularly inspected, consumers and sellers should be made aware, and the quality of the foods made in Nepal and those imported from other countries must be maintained, say medical experts. “Trans fat has no known benefit, and huge health risks that incur huge costs for health systems,” says WHO Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. “By contrast, eliminating trans fat is cost effective and has enormous benefits for health. Put simply, trans fat is a toxic chemical that kills, and should have no place in food. It’s time to get rid of it once and for all.”  

US Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland is on a visit to the Middle East and South Asia. Her stopovers in South Asia and the Middle East point at the significance of respective countries in the United States’ global and regional scheme of things. In Nepal, her first stop, Nuland sought to acquaint with the new political parties and the new administration. US engagement with and commitment to Nepal is not unaccustomed and ought not be undervalued. Nepal should comprehend the goodness in the relationship rather than giving it a political color. It is also an opportunity to strengthen Nepal’s foreign policy by having a cordial relationship with both the immediate neighbors while utilizing US support and accepting efforts for enhancing development commitments to convening the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. The US can be a reliable partner in utilizing the resources for boosting the economy and enriching the national image. It is evident that the US is looking at Nepal to enhance cooperation and coordinate efforts for strengthening democratic appeals, enriching human rights and promoting the state policy as per Article 51 of the Constitution. Her next stop, India, is a rising power in the region and holds significance in conjunction with bilateral, regional and global issues. The trip also takes her to Sri Lanka, a country in need of support to stabilize the economy, protect human rights and promote reconciliation. Qatar, the next stop, has remained a strategic partner for peace and stability in the Middle East and the liabilities of the Taliban regime in Afghanistan. In all, the trip is a reflection of wide-ranging American interests in Asia.