Kathmandu, Nepal, June 21, 2022: Chief of Army Staff (CoAS) Prabhuram Sharma is scheduled to pay an official visit to the United States (US) from June 27 to July 1.
CoAS Sharma’s visit to US was already scheduled for the alleged plan to sign in the United States’ State Partnership Program (SPP).
Even though the Nepal government has decided not to participate in the SPP on Monday, his scheduled visit is not canceled. Following the widespread concerns, a cabinet meeting held on Monday decided not to participate in the SPP.
The alleged plan to sign in the SPP was dragged into controversies before announcing it officially from Nepal government’s side. CoAS Sharma is alleged to have brought forward the Nepali Army’s views before his impending visit to the US.
It is suspected that such an occurrence developed against of the SPP in Nepal would create a crisis of confidence in the military relations with the US as Nepal Army has been receiving assistance through the SPP since 2015.
Nepal Army had been receiving US assistance not only during the 2015 devastating earthquake but also for other kinds of natural disasters, and professional development and training.
Since the SPP is not merely the security related issue but the issues related to the diplomacy, sovereignty and national integrity, all the correspondences should have made through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA).
