Foreign Minister Pradeep Gyawali has clarified that he talked only about Indo-Pacific issues during his recent meeting with the US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo and not about Nepal's participation in the Indo-Pacific strategy of America.
"Talks on one's sectors of interest and priorities are held during such meetings. USA expressed interest about how SAARC will be activated, and asked about BIMSTEC," Minister Gyawali said holding a press conference at the ministry premises on Sunday. "Such issues are included even in briefings. But we must understand that Indo-Pacific region and strategy are different things," he clarified.
"Today, @SecPompeo met with Foreign Minister Pradeep Gyawali of #Nepal, the two leaders discussed Nepal’s central role in a free, open, and prosperous Indo-Pacific, global issues, including #NorthKorea and more," Deputy Spokesperson of the US State Department Robert Palladino had tweeted after Gyawali's meeting with Pompeo on December 18.
The government was widely criticized for joining the Indo-Pacific strategy of America that is specifically designed to contain China after that. Minister Gyawali used the press conference on Sunday to clarify that Nepal has not joined the strategy.
"Countries like Switzerland and Ireland do not join NATO," he pointed. "America said during the discussion that Nepal can have a central role in the Indo-Pacific region."
He revealed that US Secretary of State Pompeo said Nepal has already chaired BIMSTEC and it is relevant also due to geographical perspective. "I replied that Nepal does not have interest in such issues and our only priority is development," he added.
He stated that Nepal did not discuss North Korea with America but talked about establishing peace in the Korean peninsula. Nepal congratulated America for taking peace initiative with North Korea. "I said we are in favor of denuclearization," he said.
