Nepal–United States relations

Nepal – United States relations

Nepal	United States

Nepal–United States relations are bilateral relations between Nepal and the United States.

According to the 2012 U.S. Global Leadership Report, 41% of Nepalese people approve of U.S. leadership, with 12% disapproving and 47% uncertain. As of 2012, Nepalese students form the 11th largest group of international students studying in the United States, representing 1.3% of all foreigners pursuing higher education in America.

History

The United States established official relations with Nepal in 1947 and opened its Kathmandu embassy in 1959. Relations between the two countries have always been friendly. U.S. policy objectives toward Nepal center on helping Nepal build a peaceful, prosperous, and democratic society.

Since 1951, the United States has provided more than $791 million in bilateral economic assistance to Nepal. In recent years, annual bilateral U.S. economic assistance through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has averaged $40 million. USAID supports agriculture, health, family planning, environmental protection, democratization, governance, and hydropower development efforts in Nepal. USAID had also supported Nepal's peace process, as well as its preparation for Constituent Assembly elections. The United States also contributes to international institutions and private voluntary organizations working in Nepal. To date, U.S. contributions to multilateral organizations working in Nepal approach an additional $725 million, including humanitarian assistance. The Peace Corps temporarily suspended its operations in Nepal in 2004 due to increasing security concerns, and officially terminated its Nepal program in 2006.

Ambassador Peter W. Bodde was appointed to Nepal on September 21, 2012. He replaces Scott H. Delisi, who is now the United States Ambassador to Uganda.

Embassy of Nepal in Washington, D.C.

Principal U.S. Officials include:

• Ambassador – Peter W. Bodde
• Deputy Chief of Mission – Patricia A. Mahoney
• Counselor for Management Affairs – Katelyn M. Choe
• USAID Director – David Atteberry
• Political and Economic Chief – Michael B. Goldman
• Consular Chief – Patrick McNeil
• Public Affairs Officer – Susan Parker-Burns
• Regional Security Officer – Karen A. Lass
• Regional Environment Officer – Tracy A. Hall
• Political/Military Chief – Kevin Costanzi
• Defense Attaché – COL Gregory Winston
• Office of Defense Cooperation – MAJ Dawood A. Luqman

See also

• Nepalese Americans

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from U.S. Bilateral Relations Fact Sheets. United States Department of State.[1]

External links

• History of Nepal - U.S. relations

Media related to Nepal – United States relations at Wikimedia Commons