Nepal’s Commendable Policy Consistency in UN Vote on Ukraine

In a sharp policy reversal on Russian invasion in Ukraine, the US on Monday voted with Russia against a resolution condemning its invasion of Ukraine three years ago, rejecting a text widely adopted by the UN General Assembly. As US President Donald Trump stakes out a new position on the Ukraine war, ending a thaw with Russia, a European-backed text marking the conflict's third anniversary won 93 votes for and 18 votes against, with 65 abstentions. Washington sided with Moscow and Russian allies Belarus, North Korea and Sudan to vote against the text. The resolution -- which won far less support compared to previous ones on the war -- strongly criticizes Russia, and emphasizes Ukraine's territorial integrity and inviolability of its borders. In this crucial voting, Nepal sided with Ukraine, demonstrating its independent foreign policy regardless of the changed power dispensation and alliance of the major powers in the global politics. As Nepal has always been siding with Ukraine right since Russia's unprovoked invasion against Ukraine three years ago, this policy consistency will help Nepal to regain the lost credibility in the international arena. The decision of Nepal to vote in favor of Ukraine while two of its immediate neighbors-- India and China—chose to abstain from the voting is commendable. Upholding the UN Charter and territorial integrity of UN member states is also in the interest of Nepal.

The policy reversal of the US comes amid the sudden rapprochement between Russia and the US under Trump. However, Washington's ally France put forward amendments to the US text and told the General Assembly that Paris, along with other European countries including Britain, would "not be able to support it in its current form." The changes reaffirmed a commitment to Ukraine's territorial integrity -- which had been omitted from the US text. It may be recalled that when Nepal first sided with Ukraine in the UN votes, a section of critics in Nepal alleged that Nepal was bandwagoning with the US and its allies. A section of top political leaders even argued that Nepal should have abstained from voting just the way India and China did. But the then government clarified that Nepal’s vote was in favor of upholding the UN Charter to which it is a party to and recognizing sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine. There could be debate on the actual reasons behind Russia's decision to invade Ukraine. But as things stand, it was Russia which invaded Ukraine- a sovereign nation recognized by the UN. Nepal’s decision to stand with the aggressor country in no way aligns with its long-held position to support sovereignty and territorial integrity of all UN member states as enshrined in the UN charter.

Geographical realities play an important role in shaping foreign policy decisions of any country. As a geographically small country straddled between the two giant neighbors, Nepal’s decision to stand in favor of smaller sovereign nations to exist peacefully and independently is commendable. The decision should not be construed for or against any country. This is a principled position that Nepal has been upholding and should continue upholding. Given the current circumstances, Nepal has few policy options other than to stand firmly in favor of a country that has bravely defended its right to exist as an independent and sovereign nation. The decision of Nepal to stand in favor of Ukraine, even as the US—a key ally that supported Ukraine defending itself against the Russian aggression—sided with Russia and two immediate neighbors chose to abstain from voting, is commendable. This decision will significantly enhance Nepal’s credibility in the international arena.