Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with Rabi Lamichhane, Chairman of Nepal's Rastriya Swatantra Party, in New Delhi on May 15, 2024 [3].
The meeting underscores India's strategic effort to maintain stability and cooperation with its immediate neighbors through diplomatic engagement and shared economic goals.
During the discussions, Modi reaffirmed that Nepal is a priority partner in India's "Neighbourhood First" policy [1]. The prime minister said that India intends to take the relationship between the two nations to greater heights [2]. This commitment aligns with a broader diplomatic push, as Modi embarked on a tour covering five nations between May 15 and May 20, 2024 [1].
Lamichhane expressed a desire to further strengthen the connection between the two countries. He said that Nepal looks forward to elevating the special and multifaceted partnership between India and Nepal [2]. The dialogue focused on the multifaceted nature of the bond, which includes cultural, economic, and security ties.
The meeting took place as part of a series of high-level engagements aimed at elevating the special ties between the two neighbors [3]. By welcoming the RSP chief to the capital, India signaled its willingness to engage with various political leadership elements within Nepal to ensure long-term regional cooperation.
Modi emphasized that the partnership is not merely transactional but rooted in a shared history. He said that the goal is to continue deepening the special relationship to benefit both populations [1].
“"Nepal is a priority partner in our Neighbourhood First policy."”
This meeting signals India's intent to diversify its diplomatic outreach within Nepal by engaging with the Rastriya Swatantra Party. By integrating this dialogue into a wider five-nation tour, India is reinforcing its 'Neighbourhood First' framework to counter regional influence and ensure that Nepal remains a stable and aligned partner on its northern border.
