Kathmandu, 30 April (H.S.):

Sergio Gor, the United States Ambassador to India, is arriving in Nepal’s capital, Kathmandu, today for a two‑day official visit. Gor is also serving as U.S. President Donald Trump’s Special Envoy for South and Central Asia, underscoring the high‑level attention Washington is giving to Nepal’s evolving political landscape.

Gor is scheduled to meet Nepal’s Finance Minister Swarnim Wagle, Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal, Foreign Secretary Amrit Rai, and several other senior officials and political leaders, including Rabi Lamichhane, the chairperson of the ruling party. He has also requested a meeting with Prime Minister Balendra Shah, though the Prime Minister has not yet confirmed whether he will hold such a meeting.

Since the formation of the new government under the National Freedom Party on 27 March, Gor will be the most senior American official to visit Kathmandu. The U.S. Embassy in Kathmandu has indicated that Gor’s visit is likely to convey Washington’s willingness to support Nepal’s new government and to boost investment, provided the necessary legal and regulatory reforms are enacted.

Gor is currently serving as the U.S. Ambassador to India and is widely regarded as a close ally of President Donald Trump. In addition to his ambassadorial role, he has been assigned the responsibilities of Special Envoy for South and Central Asia, giving him a broad regional mandate.

Traditionally, foreign diplomats, regardless of rank, usually met Nepal’s top leadership, including the Prime Minister. However, under the current government that pattern appears to be changing. It is noteworthy that Prime Minister Shah also declined to meet Samir Paul Kapur, the U.S. Assistant Secretary of State, who visited Nepal on a three‑day trip beginning 20 April.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar