US Special Envoy for South and Central Asia, Sergio Gor, arrived in Kathmandu on Thursday evening, marking the second visit by a senior US official to Nepal in the past 10 days. This visit coincides with a surge in diplomatic engagements following the formation of Nepal’s new government under Prime Minister Balendra Shah on March 27. Gor’s visit is expected to involve meetings with senior government officials and business leaders, similar to the engagements during the recent visit by US Assistant Secretary of State Paul Kapur.
Gor’s itinerary reportedly includes meetings with Finance Minister Swarnim Wagle, Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal, Foreign Secretary Amrit Bahadur Rai, and other key officials and leaders. However, it remains uncertain whether he will have an audience with Prime Minister Shah, who has been maintaining strict protocols regarding meetings with foreign envoys. Gor, who also serves as the US Ambassador to India, is known for his close ties to former US President Donald Trump and has been assigned the role of Special Envoy for South and Central Asia, enhancing his diplomatic responsibilities.
In addition to diplomatic engagements, Gor is expected to meet with business leaders, reflecting the interest of US technology companies, such as Starlink, in exploring opportunities in the Nepali market. This visit occurs amidst heightened diplomatic activities involving various countries. Notably, during Kapur’s recent visit, Cao Jing from China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs also held discussions with Nepali officials. Furthermore, Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri is anticipated to visit Nepal in mid-May, underscoring the strategic importance of Nepal to key stakeholders like India, China, and the United States.
