Nepal PM Oli to Break Tradition with Thailand Visit for BIMSTEC Summit

Nepal's newly-elected Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli is expected to make Thailand his first foreign trip destination, diverging from the traditional visits to neighboring countries. He will attend the BIMSTEC Summit in September, followed by a trip to the US for the United Nations General Assembly. The recall and reassignment of Nepal's ambassadors to India and China have complicated diplomatic relations, impacting Oli's travel plans.

Nepal's newly-elected Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli is poised to begin his international diplomatic engagements by visiting Thailand, breaking from the tradition of visiting neighboring countries first. Official sources have confirmed that Oli will attend the BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) Summit in Bangkok in the first week of September.

Past Nepalese Prime Ministers typically visited India or China first, making Oli's choice of Thailand a significant departure from convention. Following his trip to Thailand, Oli will head to the United States to participate in the United Nations General Assembly in the third week of September.

The recall and recent reappointments of Nepal's ambassadors to India and China by the previous and current governments have further complicated Oli's diplomatic plans, making immediate visits to these neighboring countries unlikely. Both Shanker Sharma and Krishna Prasad Oli have been reappointed to diplomatic postings in India and China, respectively.

(With inputs from agencies.)