Since the conflict between the United States and China, the United States has attempted to encircle China from various strategic locations. It had attempted to provoke the Galvan Crisis from Indian soil, and from Hong Kong in the name of civil rights, highlighting the subject of Uyghur human rights. When all other measures failed, the United States turned to neighboring soil to destabilize China, which is expected to become the world’s number one economy in the coming years.
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The United States has proposed a State Party Program (SPP) between the Government of Nepal and the U.S. National Guard. The 10 points in the partnership letter in the proposal came out of the document proposed by the US side to Nepal. According to the document received by Kantipur, the agreement will be signed between the Ministry of Defense of Nepal and the Ministry of Defense of the United States. The Nepal army on behalf of Nepal government United States requested Nepal to participate in the SPP program in 2015. According to the media report SPP was proposed in 2015 by government of Nepal. The then Army Chief Rajendra Chhetri had requested US government by sending an official letter to participate in SPP. It is said that the agreement had already been signed during 2019.
What is a State Partnership Program?
The US National Guard has been running the SPP program for 30 years. It is mentioned in the website that it has kept Nepal as a partner since 2019. The United States launched the Indo-Pacific Strategy in 2009. The United States has said the program is designed to address security challenges in the 21st century. The program is implemented by the National Guard in 45 percent of the world’s territory. Most of the US states are connected to it. NATO member states are also in the SPP. The program is part of a US policy to support foreign security partners. The SPP serves the purpose of US security cooperation. “The SPP supports the US Security Cooperation Goals, US military geographic commands (GCCs) and states develop sustainable relations with partner countries, builds partnership capabilities, conducts various activities to enhance US access and influence, and enhances partner countries’ readiness,” the SPP website said. Under the program, the US military aims to work with foreign military, security forces and government agencies involved in disaster response and emergency operations. The Department of Defense and Security Assistance, run by the head of the National Guard Bureau, is a program implemented by the Geographical Command and resourced by National Guards in various states.
Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba is scheduled to visit the United States in the near future and the issue of Chief of Army Staff Prabhuram Sharma’s visit to the United States focused complicated the SPP agreement. US Army Pacific Commanding General Charles A. Flynn, who recently visited Nepal, said in a statement that Nepal should sign the agreement soon. Although the Nepal Army chief said no agreement would be signed during his visit to the United States, he did not give a clear answer on whether the government would sign the agreement.
After MCC, US has State Partnership Program (SPP), Nepal is not a member, but US says: Nepal is a partner. Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba’s proposed visit to the United States in the last week of July, attempts are being made diplomatically to formalize the visit of US President Joe Biden, who was invited to the event. Before Prime Minister Deuba, Chief of Army Staff Prabhuram Sharma will leave for the United States on July 29, where he will also hold talks with US Defense Department officials. Controversy has erupted in Nepal over the US State Partnership Program (SPP) after the visit of Charles A. Flynn, Commanding General of the US Pacific Command before the two visits (June 26-29). After the US grant aid MCC was approved by the House of Representatives on February 3,
The draft agreement between the Nepal Army and the US Army has been developing for a long time. Details have also been made public that the United States has been urging Nepal to participate in the State Partnership Program since 2015. UML leader Pradip Kumar Gyawali visited the United States in December 2018 as the foreign minister. During the visit, he is scheduled to hold talks with senior White House officials, as well as officials from USAID and the Millennium Challenge Corporation, MCC, according to a State Department statement. After the visit, the issue of Nepal’s agreement on the State Partnership Program (SPP) was made public. It is seen that Nepal has been listed in SPP’s website in 2019. Some experts have claimed that the State Partnership Program (SPP) agreement was initiated by Nepal and not by the United States. The proposal was made during the tenure of then Chief of Army Staff Rajendra Chhetri and Defense Minister Ishwar Pokharel. Congress leader Minendra Rijal, who was later appointed as the defense minister, was scheduled to visit the United States to discuss further initiatives of the previous government.
The agreement is based on the sovereignty of both sides and the full respect of the obligations arising from other international agreements, in addition to the objectives of the United Nations Charter, which seeks to conclude an agreement on enhanced cooperation between the two countries. Likewise, the leaked MoU document harmed national security, regional balance violating non- align foreign policy of Nepal government. Foreign minister Narayan khadka answering to the parliament didn’t deny on participating the SPP but said it is not the military alliance. The leaders accused the SPP of being part of the Indo-Pacific and said it should not deviate from Nepal’s non-aligned foreign policy.
Security diplomacy should be pursued by accepting aid from countries including China and India, not just the United States. Two countries’ armies were still conducting exercises in the highlands where Manang and Mustang are located. In making such a written agreement, first of all, Nepal should think twice the impact on its foreign policy as well as in regional security.
What is in the draft agreement?
The draft SPP agreement published by various media has included 10 points. It also covers the development of anti-terrorist intelligence capabilities of the Nepal Army, from conducting joint military training exercises in the high mountainous areas of Nepal, joint disaster management, fellowships for Army Officers in the United States, light and non-lethal military equipment as per the demand of the Nepal Army and cyber security training and equipment assistance for the Nepal Army.
Now the debate started in Nepal – who is lying? the government of Nepal, Nepal Army or the United States or the leaders. People of Nepal have right to know the fact. The culprits who are involved against national interest should be punished.
Nepal is in geo-strategic location. Because of such position Nepali rulers always followed Prithivi Narayan Shah and his Devine message- the policy of non- alignment. During cold war Nepal became safe because of this foreign policy. But very recently, after the declaration of republic Nepal our leaders had compromised our foreign policy at the cost of ruling the government. It seems Nepal is trying to tilt to one side. Tilted policy not only harms Nepal but also hamper regional balance and good will relations with the neighbours. Nepal is in the similar position as Ukraine. Nepali leaders should learn lesson from Ukraine for the sake of national integrity, sovereignty and national identity. There is no way to Nepal except forgetting such strategic interest of foreigners to save cordial relationship with the nieghbours. Nepal should learn a lesson from history.
Published Date : 18 Jun 2022
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