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On Monday, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during their respective visits to New York for the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

“The India-Nepal friendship is very robust, and we look forward to adding even more momentum to our ties. Our talks focused on issues such as energy, technology, and trade,” Modi said while sharing pictures with Oli on his X account.

Prime Minister Oli also met with the Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Kuwait, Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah, at Kuwait’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations. Both leaders discussed matters of mutual interest and explored ways to further strengthen ties between Nepal and Kuwait.

On Sunday, PM Oli delivered a compelling address at the “Summit of the Future” session at the UN headquarters in New York. Representing the Group of Least Developed Countries (LDCs), he highlighted the pressing global challenges facing LDCs, with a focus on poverty, industrialization, and climate justice.

In his speech, PM Oli emphasized the urgent need for industrialization and increased production to combat poverty, a shared challenge for LDCs. He noted that while these countries contribute minimally to global greenhouse gas emissions, they bear the brunt of climate change’s devastating impacts. He called on developed nations to increase their investment in climate financing, underscoring the need for global solidarity.

“Millions of children in LDCs go hungry every day, deprived of their basic rights to food and education,” PM Oli said, stressing that poverty is a significant barrier to a sustainable future for the world’s most vulnerable. He urged for concerted international efforts toward poverty alleviation and highlighted the moral imperative for wealthier nations to address growing inequality.

PM Oli also expressed concern over unmet commitments to Official Development Assistance (ODA), delayed international support, and rising debt distress in LDCs. He raised the issue of the digital divide, which continues to widen the gap between rich and poor countries, and criticized the global financial and trading systems for being fundamentally unfair to LDCs.

Despite these challenges, PM Oli spoke optimistically about the future, welcoming the adoption of the “Pact for the Future” as a blueprint for a peaceful, prosperous, and sustainable world. He called for a renewed commitment to multilateralism and stronger global governance structures that include LDCs in decision-making processes.

The Prime Minister concluded by urging global leaders to invest in productive capacities, sustainable development, and rural upliftment, advocating for meaningful partnerships to ensure equitable progress for all nations.

In addition to his discussions with Prime Minister Modi, Prime Minister Oli held a meeting with UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Sunday. During their conversation, Guterres expressed gratitude for Nepal’s vital contributions to UN peacekeeping operations. Nepal has long been recognized as a steadfast contributor of troops and police to UN missions, reflecting the country’s commitment to maintaining international peace and security.

The two leaders discussed several critical issues, including Nepal’s leadership role as Chair of the Global Coordination Bureau for Least Developed Countries (LDCs). Guterres highlighted the necessity of addressing climate change, particularly concerning mountain regions, which are especially vulnerable to environmental changes. The conversation also emphasized the importance of advancing Nepal’s transitional justice process, an issue of significant national importance.

In a post on X, Prime Minister Oli described the meeting as productive, focusing on essential topics such as transitional justice and climate justice. He expressed optimism about strengthening partnerships for a better future, highlighting Nepal’s commitment to social justice and sustainable development.

According to the Permanent Mission of Nepal to the UN, the discussions covered various aspects of Nepal-UN cooperation. Guterres commended Nepal for its unwavering dedication to the principles outlined in the UN Charter. He reiterated that addressing climate change is a top priority for the UN, particularly the urgent need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and assist vulnerable mountain countries like Nepal. The Secretary-General emphasized that adequate climate finance is essential for developing countries, including LDCs, to effectively engage in both mitigation and adaptation efforts.

Prime Minister Oli informed Guterres about the recent enactment of Nepal’s transitional justice law, which adopts a victim-centric approach and aligns with guidance from the Supreme Court and international norms. He assured the Secretary-General of the government’s commitment to implementing this law smoothly to resolve transitional justice issues once and for all.

Furthermore, the Prime Minister highlighted the devastating impacts of climate change on Nepal, specifically mentioning the permafrost issues in Thame, Solukhumbu, that have arisen due to global warming. He stressed the urgency of addressing these challenges and indicated that Nepal would be convening the Sagarmatha Sambad—a dialogue platform focused on the mountain ecosystem—inviting Guterres to participate.

Oli also articulated Nepal’s ambition to graduate from the LDC category by 2026 and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. He urged Guterres to advocate for enhanced development assistance from the international community to support this goal.

During their meeting, Prime Minister Oli reaffirmed Nepal’s commitment to maintaining international peace and security, as the country is the largest Troops and Police Contributing Country (TPCC) to UN peace missions. He appealed to Guterres for the appointment of high-level positions for Nepal both at the UN headquarters and in the field.

Guterres expressed deep concern over the accelerated melting of glaciers and the resultant damage, assuring Prime Minister Oli of his commitment to enhancing resources within the Loss and Damage Fund to support affected countries.

Prime Minister Oli was accompanied by several high-ranking officials, including Minister for Foreign Affairs Arzu Rana Deuba, Chief Advisor to the Prime Minister Bishnu Prasad Rimal, Foreign Secretary Sewa Lamsal, Permanent Representative of Nepal to the United Nations Lok Bahadur Thapa, and Joint-Secretary Amrit Bahadur Rai.

In addition to his meetings, Prime Minister Oli addressed the “Parliamentary Forum on Financing the Future: Aligning Finance with the Promise of the Paris Agreement” as the keynote speaker. In his address, he stressed the critical importance of phasing out fossil fuels to prevent catastrophic climatic disasters that are becoming more frequent and severe. He urged for increased investment in green and renewable energy technologies, advocating for a just transition to renewable energy and better access to climate funds for vulnerable countries.

Meanwhile, the United Nations High Representative for Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries, and Small Island Developing States, Undersecretary-General Rabab Fatima, also paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Oli. During their discussion, they exchanged views on the Nepal-UN partnership, the ongoing efforts to help Nepal graduate from the LDC category, and preparations for the upcoming Third International Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDC3).

Prime Minister Oli arrived in New York on Friday on a 10-day visit, marking his first foreign engagement since his reappointment as Prime Minister on July 15.

During the session titled ‘Rethinking Development and Diplomacy in the Digital Age’ at the Kathmandu Kalinga Literary Festival, former Indian ambassador to Nepal, Ranjit Rae, emphasized the importance of credibility in diplomacy. He noted that people play a central role in influencing government decisions, pointing to recent events in Bangladesh and the 2006 people’s movement in Nepal. “People are at the center of everything. Public diplomacy has played a huge role in India-Nepal relations, not always positively. It can work both ways,” Rae remarked.

Reflecting on his tenure as ambassador during a challenging period, Rae recalled, “I was in Nepal during the constitution-writing process and the protests in Tarai.” He also mentioned his book, ‘Kathmandu Dilemma: Resetting India-Nepal Ties’, which he wrote to address misconceptions about India’s role in Nepal.

In another session titled ‘Writing as Aspiration’, Rae stressed the importance of self-research on regional history and heritage. “What is written about us in the West need not align with our own narratives. It is up to us to research and write about our history,” he said.

Brigadier General Gaurav Kumar KC, spokesperson for the Nepali Army, confirmed that Nepali peacekeepers deployed in Lebanon are safe following recent airstrikes by Israel. 

On Sunday, Israel launched air strikes into Lebanon, claiming to have thwarted a large-scale Hezbollah attack. In response, Hezbollah announced its own cross-border raids to avenge the killing of a top commander. The Israeli military reported that its fighter jets destroyed ‘thousands’ of Hezbollah rocket launchers aimed at both northern and central Israel.

Brigadier General KC stated, “Approximately 850 Nepali peacekeepers are stationed in various parts of Lebanon, but the Israeli attacks did not occur near their locations. The United Nations has already briefed the peacekeepers on safety measures, and Nepali personnel are in contact with the Nepali Army headquarters.”

The United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, and the UNIFIL peacekeeping force have urged all parties to cease fire and avoid further escalation. Lebanon’s health ministry reported at least three fatalities in the Israeli strikes in the country’s south, while no casualties were immediately reported in Israel.

The Indian government’s budget for the Ministry of External Affairs for the fiscal year 2024/25 has increased allocations for Nepal and Sri Lanka while reducing support for other neighboring countries. Nepal stands out as a major beneficiary, poised to receive InRs 7bn, a substantial increase of InRs 1.5bn from the previous year’s revised budget of InRs 6.5bn. 

Sri Lanka’s allocation has also risen significantly to InRs 2.45bn, an increase of InRs 0.95bn from the previous year’s InRs 1.5bn. This boost is crucial for Sri Lanka’s ongoing economic recovery, supported by India’s previous $4bn aid. 

Afghanistan and the Maldives maintain their allocations at InRs 2bn and InRs 4bn, respectively. Afghanistan’s allocation remains stable despite last year’s revised budget of InRs 2.2bn. 

The Maldives saw a notable increase in its revised budget to InRs 7.7bn, indicating ongoing support for infrastructure projects. 

Meanwhile, Bhutan and Myanmar have seen reductions in their aid. Bhutan’s allocation decreased by InRs 3.3bn—yet it still receives the largest share at InRs 20.68bn. Myanmar’s allocation dropped by InRs 1.5bn to InRs 2.5bn, compared to last year’s InRs 4bn, with InRs 3.7bn utilized. Bangladesh’s allocation decreased by InRs 0.8bn to InRs 1.2bn, with only InRs 1.3bn of the previous year’s InRs 2bn utilized. 

Similarly, Iran’s Chabahar port project continues to receive a steady allocation of InRs 1bn, unchanged for the past three years, highlighting its strategic importance for India as a gateway to Afghanistan and Central Asia, bypassing Pakistan.

Indian Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the first full-fledged budget of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led coalition government on Tuesday. From India Inc to the middle class and job seekers, everyone has high hopes for this budget. Additionally, some policy interventions could significantly boost the country’s economic growth and tackle the growing unemployment issue.

Ahead of the budget, Prime Minister Modi asserted that this budget will lay the foundation of ‘Viksit Bharat’ (Developed India). He also said that this is an important budget for ‘Amrit Kaal’, which means ‘great leap’, and could propel India forward on all fronts.