Policy Brief

Military Diplomacy of Nepal

Military Diplomacy 

The term military diplomacy emerged post-cold war period. The persuasion of military diplomacy emerged to represent the state's national interest. Military diplomacy's activities entail gathering security and armed related information of the countries, forming strategic cooperation that suits both, thus, military diplomacy is an essential tool of the state to facilitate its foreign policy aims and objectives. In the country context, Nepal maintains military relations with many countries around the globe. Nepal’s military relations and cooperation have enormously augmented for the past decades. 
 

Nepal’s Military Diplomacy 

Military engagements in the history 

The history of military diplomacy is observed since the time of Nepal’s unification by King Prithvi Narayan Shah. His strategy was defending the nation’s territory from annexation. During Rana period, their strategy was to become Britishers ally to save the country from being colonized. Jung Bahadur Rana assisted Britishers during the Indian Mutiny of 1857–58. He sent a contingent of Gurkha soldiers to the British, establishing a tradition of Gurkha military service in the British army. Furthermore, he was able to bring back four districts of Nepal through negotiation with the Britishers. 

Further King Mahendra initiated Nepal to become a member of United Nations. Relation with China and USSR was established and Nepal adopted non-aligned foreign policy. 

During the period of Maoist insurgency, military aid mostly came from India, US, and the UK. However, Chinese assistance during the insurgency period began and gradually increased. During 2001 – 2004, US granted 29 million as military aid, seeing Maoist as a threat to its part of global “war on terror”. The UN and European nations condemned supporting sides viewing this as a form of human rights violation. 

In the transition period after signing Comprehensive Peace Accord (CPA), Nepal’s internal priority was focused on disarmament and being obliged towards the provisions of CPA. In this period, the Nepal Army lobbied with the government to discontinue the operations of UNMIN (United Nations Mission in Nepal) which was entrusted to support the peace process in Nepal. As Nepal army was dissatisfied with the monitoring of the arms of army and Maoist. In 2011, Madhav Kumar Nepal sent a letter to the UN forcing the UNMIN to exit. 

Nepal’s Military Relations 

Nepal Army’s relation with India:

Nepal and India established its military cooperation in 1947 after India gained independence from Britishers. The tripartite agreement states that six regiment would transfer to the Indian Army. Until now, 32,000 Gurkha soldiers are serving in the Indian Army. In order to ease the process of retirement services provided by the Indian Army, the military pension branch was set up in Kathmandu, two pension paying offices and 22 district soldiers boards, this is regulated by the Indian Embassy. 

Aside this, Indian and Nepalese Army have a special bond of exchanging special relation due to cultural and linguistic similarities. Nepal and India exchange honorary ranks exchanged with each other’s chief of army staff, military exchanges, military visits, India’s humanitarian assistance in times of crisis for e.g., during the earthquake and COVID-19 India was the first country to help Nepal. 

Nepal has been buying weapons from India under the 1950 Peace and Friendship. Until 2004 India supplied weapon to Nepal to combat Maoists. After King Gyanendra’s decision to restrict civil liberties and democratic rights, India put hold on its supply of lethal and non-lethal weapons to Nepal government in 2005. In 2013, Nepal Army initially decided to purchase and import 11.132 million cartridges and bullets, 24,166 weapons of various kinds and 81- and 51-mm mortars from India. In 2022 India broke the Chinese monopoly and 8-year-old Chinese cartel in Nepal, an Indian private company has supplied 2 million of the 5.56x45mm rounds for the Nepalese army’s assault rifles under a government-to-government contract route. 
 

Nepal Army’s Relation with China:

Nepal and China’s military relations can be traced back to formalization of their relations in 1955. In the case of defense cooperation, Nepal sought weapons from China in 1988. Despite ideological differences China consistently provided non-lethal equipment to the Nepal government during the insurgency period. China has supported APF who looks after the border points. Chinese government has supported to build APF training academy. China also showed interest to build National Defense Academy of Nepal Army. Similarly, Chinese announced 2.53 billion rupees grant to Nepal Army to buy better equipment for peace keeping missions. Chinese have provided digital radio trunking systems to enhance communications. In addition to this, Nepal and China began its joint military exercise Sagarmatha Friendship.

Nepal Army’s Relation with US:

The US cooperates with Nepal in defense cooperation and humanitarian assistance.1 As Nepal was going through insurgency, Colin Powell paid a visit to Nepal and discussed the possibilities of sending hardware from the U.S to fight against the terror. Initially, the US presence in Nepal was mainly concerned with humanitarian assistance in health, social and economic development. 

In the case of Arms and ammunition; the Nepal Army acquired the M16 rifles for the first time in 2003 as part of the US government’s support to contain Maoist revolutionaries. Washington provided around 17,000 sophisticated rifles as per the deal with the Sher Bahadur Deuba government in 2002. In 2019, Nepal acquired M4, M-16, and A4 rifles from the US to equip its squad deployed in war-torn countries. 

In the recent time, controversies surfaced on Nepal’s application to the United States’ State Partnership Programme. The Nepal Army sent official letter to apply for SPP to the US embassy in 2015 and again in 2017. There was no official letter that was signed between two governments. The controversary surfaces when General Flynn visited Nepal to learn the status of SPP. The concern was raised regarding SPP quoting it was a part of IPS. 

In response, the document was leaked in the media where Nepal Army had sent an official request to the embassy during the tenure of former COAS Rajendra Chettri. Another proposed 10 points draft agreement was leaked in the media which US claimed it to be fake. Finally, Nepal Government decided not to be a part of SPP. The controversary raises concerns on the credibility of Nepal Army and lack of coordination among the state institutions. 
 

The role of Nepal army in Military Diplomacy 

Defense Attache:

The defense attaché serves in the embassy as a representation of its country. Initially the culture of sending military officers began with French in 1806 which was followed by other European countries. In Nepal's context presently there are six defense attaches representing the US, UK, India, China, Bangladesh and Pakistan. The military attache’s role also includes being able to gain insights of the country they are sent in a diplomatic mission. It includes, understanding the culture, perspective of the public and forming a strategic picture of how the attache can benefit from the country. 
 

UN Peacekeeping Mission:

Nepal’s first UN mission was in Lebanon in 1958, Nepal was the only country from South Asia that was selected for the mission. Nepal has been to 44 missions as an observer and peacekeeping troops until 2019. The mission does not only benefit economically or diplomatically but the officials gain professional experience after the mission. Nepal Army’s Welfare Fund increases through the levy deducted from the Nepali peacekeepers and reimbursement from the United Nations. It has now reached tentatively around 50 billion NPR. 

Joint Military Training:

Nepal Army conducts joint military training as a part showcasing its soft power. Joint Military training is mostly related to familiarize both armies with each other’s weapons, equipment, tactics, techniques and procedures of operating in a counter-insurgency environment in mountainous terrain. 

In Nepal high altitude and mountain warfare course started from 1990-2018, the countries that have participated are Argentina, Australia, Bangladesh, Canada, China, England, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Korea, Myanmar, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Sweden, US, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, Malaysia, Mexico, Lebanon, Maldives. The total number of trainees: have reached 287. The most frequent joint military exercises are with India (Surya Kiran), trainings on jungle warfare and high-altitude warfare. 

Nepal Army have played important role in promoting country’s interest and maintained balanced relationship among countries that it has bilateral ties. In the later period, Nepal’s military, Nepal police and paramilitary force have been primarily supported by China, India and the U.S. The U.S wants to expand its influence with its Indo-Pacific strategy by engaging states through its instruments like MCC, SPP of the US and while China is expanding its presence through BRI. India is also trying to accommodate Nepal into BIMSTEC. Nepal should be cautious to promote its security interest and protect from being dragged into any military alliances. The lack of coordination is seen among the institution especially the line ministries and Nepal Army which automatically affects the preparedness of the country for the same. 

Conclusion

Nepal most expand military cooperation with countries with similar interests and in the areas where it can benefit the most. The reputation that Nepal has earned through its long-standing contribution in peace keeping force opens up avenue to promote Nepal’s soft diplomacy. Similarly, the role of Defense Attache plays important role to strengthen Nepal’s military diplomacy. The roles of DAs must be strengthened to facilitate the same.

The Ministry of Defense and Ministry of Foreign Affairs should equally play role to foster benefits through military and defense diplomacy. Lack of coordination and communications among institutions have led to controversies as evident in SPP debate in Nepal. To avoid such situation, line ministries and Nepal Army must come together and form a consensus while dealing related matters