Chris Miller, Associate Professor at the Fletcher School at Tufts University, Massachusetts, and the author of the book Chip War: The Fight for the World's Most Critical Technology published in 2022, defines geopolitics as a matter of global influence on power sharing, retrieving power, and the exercise of military and technological power with one another. Here, he also signifies the vitality of micro and mini chips. This book was also a New York Times bestseller of 2022 and Financial Times Business Book of the Year 2022. But the geopolitics of Nepal conveys a different value than this recent volume.
Geopolitics of Nepal is a diverse blend of tradition, language, culture, geographic location and more. It too configures global diplomatic outlines as being between the two super economies of the world, i.e. China and India. The other factor that balances our geopolitics is based on trade and is the strategic location that ties India and China for their trade promotion. Being a buffer state and a landlocked country, the navigation route of Trans-Himalayan Connectivity also carries some diplomatic, civilisational and geopolitical tendencies. A similar type of political theme can be seen in the documentary The Migrants Are Coming, premiered in October 2025, which reflects the nationalist-populist movement in Germany and Poland. But the geopolitics of Indo-Nepal, which carries nationalist-populist agendas, is not as extreme as expressed.
At present, global politics consumes no boundaries but incubates freelance ideas, which are liable to catalyse diplomatic values. States do have their own diplomatic norms and values linked to their nationality, economy, geography, soft power and more. For example, Switzerland for its neutrality, Nepal for its strategic location, China for its mushrooming trade and export, and the USA for its power balance, etc. The above-mentioned strategic location of Nepal relates to the Gujral Doctrine (I.K. Gujral) as a significant cornerstone to strengthen Nepal's internal soft power. I.K. Gujral's doctrine of harmony and brotherhood carries significant value to the small neighbouring states like Bhutan, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Maldives near India. In the case of Nepal, this reflects the sense of the Peace and Friendship Treaty of 1950, which too addresses the sense of culture, religion and polity. This yields enhanced mutual understanding, diverse political cultivation and wisdom, leading to fit its adaptive topography.
Surya P. Subedi, Professor of International Law at the University of Leeds, in his published book Dynamics of Foreign Policy and Law, concludes Nepal's geopolitical location as a matter of stalemate where Nepal can gain democratic assistance via equality, openness, mutual respect and trust. This book was published by Oxford University in 2005. These factors carry the sense of geopolitics, grounded cultural history, lingua franca, clothing uniformity, and cultural and religious influence, which encapsulate the akin identity between the states. But the destitute cognition gap among the states and their civilians remains status quo, symbolising feigning ignorance, albeit the wisdom gap these days seems to be lessening due to educational edification.
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The recent agreement signed on November 13, 2025, relates to the essence of rail-based navigation from the Jogbani–Biratnagar corridor to capacitate foreign trade, i.e. the India–Nepal Treaty of Transit, basically to conglomerate the trade facilities as carried down by both Nepal and India, aiming to enhance significant trade benefits. This treaty carries benefits to both nations by providing swift and cheap logistics, direct and deep access to global markets, regional integration, cross-border logistics, access to trade and diplomatic ties, and more. Now, Nepal seeks to have a path to the sea via Indian ports. If so, it is assumed that Nepal's external trade will be streamlined to the global market. This sort of agreement was signed between Nepal's Industry and Commerce Minister Anil Kumar Sinha and India's Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal.
Essence of Gujral Doctrine
Combined within five general principles, the Gujral Doctrine carries the theme of “immediate neighbours first” in the case of diplomatic assistance and friendship. It too relates to the Panchsheel theory regarding the quality and cordial relations with its small surrounding nations. Gujral's Doctrine of diplomacy was actually practised in Nepal in April 1990, when Nepal's interim Prime Minister Krishna Prasad Bhattarai's efforts in the restoration of multi-party democracy were welcomed by India's government. In addition, a number of options were kicked off to expand bilateral economic cooperation between Nepal and India. Many other agreements were later struck as well. From February 13 to 15, 1991, the Indian Prime Minister travelled to Nepal for the first time in fourteen years. It was also Prime Minister Chandra Shekhar's first bilateral trip overseas.
For small neighbouring countries like Nepal, this doctrine carries some special aspects of reciprocity and mutual respect. Issues of sovereignty are prominent these days, lacking understanding of the tendency of diplomatic engagements and other bilateral interests. For the immediate resolution of these issues, i.e. radical sovereignty and radical nationalism, the Gujral Doctrine, along with its fruitful applications, is nowadays presenting a peaceful, safe landing and non-interference. Standing on the Gujral Doctrine of the Indian school of thought towards Nepal, this has a geopolitical and geostrategic standpoint of giving more to immediate nations than to request.
The tendency of unilateral agreement, honour of territorial integrity, non-interference, trust and regional cooperation co-relates the understanding of harmony to fit the state's national interest. Among the South Asian nations, Nepal herself fits the landmark of the first Zone of Peace state among SAARC members. The significance of its geostrategic position poses the value of a subdued mark for all super states. It is also an asset for Nepal. The Buddhist school of Panchsheel (five principles of peaceful coexistence) is likely to provide new perspectives to the states with bilateral relations with Nepal.
Political Outreach and Milestones
Polity, along with geopolitical affairs, tends to mark a crystal-clear line of diplomatic outreach but lacks in doing so due to a lack of solid ideological backup. So Nepal too needs to hold a clear line of foreign policy with immediate and remote neighbours. This helps to construct diplomatic and geopolitical roadmaps. Sandwiched between the super economies, Nepal needs to navigate ahead for diplomatic swing along with trade and strategic alliances, meeting global benchmarks. Political, economic, legal and social agendas can also be part and parcel of this.
The social school of diplomacy and geopolitics between Nepal and India carries a long history of cultural ties but is still addressed as informal international ties. The treaty of 1816, i.e. the Sugauli Treaty, also provides an unbiased wing of mutual respect, open borders and other values of social grounding. The Treaty of Peace and Friendship seeks mutual tendencies towards brotherhood, residence, property, trade and more. The Treaty of Trade and Transit (with multiple amendments) also seeks a global platform for social connectivity between the peoples of Nepal and India.
A very long diplomatic tie established in the late 18th century is still in balance, carrying various treaties between India and Nepal, namely the Barcelona Convention and Statute on Freedom of Transit (1921), Geneva Convention and Statute on the International Regime of Maritime Ports (1923), Geneva Conventions on the Law of the Sea (1958), New York Convention on the Transit Trade of Landlocked States (1965) and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (LOSC, 1982). A legal door of differentiation and acceptability needs to be practised in both democratic states, i.e. Nepal and India.
Geopolitical ties need to be enhanced well, adding value to legal procedures while fostering culture, religion, tradition, languages and more. Value can be added and a synergistic milestone in terms of diplomacy, foreign policy and geopolitics can be maintained if we believe in change. Thus, this school of diplomacy is more incessant without any fiasco.
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