Rebuilding Bridges: PM Oli and PM Modi meet in Bangkok

Nepal’s Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi broke diplomatic silence in Bangkok during the sidelines of the 6th Summit of the Bay of Bengal Initiative of Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC).

After nearly a decade marked by diplomatic challenges – from the promulgation of Nepal’s new constitution in 2015 to over political maps of both countries– the meeting served as a positive step towards rebuilding trust and revitalizing long-standing diplomatic ties.

During the summit, the heads of the governments of the two countries held a one-on-one meeting lasting over 30 minutes. The high-level engagement signalled a significant step toward fostering cooperation and strengthening mutual trust.

Nepal always prioritized her ties with the two immediate neighbours–India and China. Likewise, India, under the Modi Administration, has reaffirmed Nepal’s importance in its ‘neighbourhood first’ policy.

Following the Bangkok meeting, PM Oli shared the details of this meeting on his X acccount, stating, “Had a warm and heartfelt meeting with my dear friend, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji. Our discussions were highly meaningful and constructive. I express my appreciation over their cordial exchange.” The use of the term “dear friend” hinted at the tone of warmth between the two leaders.

Likewise, his Indian counterpart PM Modi also took to X to share the details. “Had a productive meeting with Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli in Bangkok. India attaches immense priority to relations with Nepal. We discussed different aspects of India-Nepal friendship, especially in sectors like energy, connectivity, culture and digital technology. We also talked about some of the key positive outcomes from this year’s BIMSTEC Summit, especially in areas of disaster management and maritime transport.”

Both leaders went a step further by sharing their meeting updates in each other’s languages– Oli in Hindi and Modi in Nepali– a symbolic gesture that added a cultural touch to their engagement. 

PM Oli, who assumed office for the third time in July 2024, with the support of Nepali Congress, has extended multiple invitations to the Indian Prime Minister, including an invitation to attend the upcoming Sagarmatha Sambaad, to be held in Kathmandu from May 16-18. However, PM Modi has cited prior commitments in Europe during that period. Prior to this, PM Oli had sent Foreign Minister Arzu Rana Deuba to extend an invitation to PM Modi to visit Nepal. Meanwhile, PM Oli has yet to receive an invitation to visit India.

After assuming office, PM Oli has met PM Modi twice. The two leaders met during the sidelines of the 79th United Nations General Assembly in New York, USA, in September 2024.