Relationship dossier
Nepal
Russia
Relationship assessment
Long-standing ties include Soviet-era assistance and education, alongside Nepal’s opposition to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Nepal toward Russia
-10Nepal voted in favor of the 2022 United Nations General Assembly resolution demanding that Russia end its invasion of Ukraine and withdraw its forces, reflecting clear disagreement with Russian policy.
Russia toward Nepal
+15The Soviet Union assisted Nepal with infrastructure projects, including the Panauti Hydropower Plant, and provided educational opportunities for Nepali students. The extent of comparable contemporary cooperation is unclear.
Overall relationship
+10The relationship has a foundation of practical Soviet-era assistance and educational exchange, but its contemporary scope appears limited. Nepal’s opposition to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is a significant political disagreement within an otherwise long-standing bilateral relationship.
How to read these scores
Scores are rough judgments, not objective measurements or current verification. Directional scores describe government policy and conduct, not public opinion. The overall score is an independent estimate, never an average.
- −100
- Extreme sustained hostility
- −50
- Substantially adversarial
- 0
- Mixed or neutral, supported by knowledge
- +50
- Substantially cooperative
- +100
- Exceptionally close sustained partnership
“Not assessed” means there is no recorded score. Pair existence makes no claim about diplomatic recognition or established relations.
Relationship context
Overview
Nepal and Russia have a long-standing relationship that includes Soviet-era infrastructure assistance and educational cooperation. Nepal has also opposed Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in the United Nations, creating a notable point of disagreement. The relationship has included practical cooperation but appears limited in scope compared with close strategic partnerships.
Areas of tension
- Nepal’s opposition to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine
Key developments
The Soviet Union assisted with the construction of the Panauti Hydropower Plant in Nepal.
Nepal voted in favor of the UN General Assembly resolution demanding an end to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and withdrawal of Russian forces.
Major uncertainties
- The scale and continuity of Russian educational and technical cooperation with Nepal are unclear.
- The extent of current bilateral economic and government cooperation is unclear.