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Santosh Sharma Poudel

Santosh Sharma Poudel

Santosh Sharma Poudel is a faculty at the Department of International Relations and Diplomacy, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu and a co-founder of Nepal Institute for Policy Research (NIPoRe).

Santosh Sharma Poudel is foreign policy analyst and co-founder of Nepal Institute for Policy Research (NIPoRe). He leads the National Security and Foreign Affairs cluster at NIPoRe. He is also a faculty at Department of International Relations and Diplomacy (DIRD), Tribhuvan Unviersity. He writes on Nepali foreign and security policy and regional order regularly in Nepali newspapers and magazines. Besides Nepal, his areas of interest are South Asian regional order, China’s rise, and security in the Asia-Pacific.

He advises and conducts research for Institute for Foreign Affairs (IFA), a semi-autonomous research institute of Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nepal.

He received his Bachelors from Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University, Japan and Master’s from S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), Nanyang Technological University. He was awarded the ST Engineering Gold Medal at for his excellence at RSIS and Nepal Bidhyabhusan (Kha) from the Government of Nepal.

Posts by Santosh Sharma Poudel
January 14, 2024

People’s Democratic Party Wins Elections in Bhutan

By Santosh Sharma Poudel
Unlike in other parts of South Asia, where elections are plagued with controversy, Bhutan’s fourth general election was peaceful and not divisive.

January 11, 2024

Indian FM’s Visit to Nepal Sees Deals Sealed, and a Controversy

By Santosh Sharma Poudel
A long-term power trade pact was signed. However, Indian funding for community development projects evokes concern in Nepal.
December 26, 2023

Economic Revival is on the Minds of Bhutanese Voters

By Santosh Sharma Poudel
The final round of Bhutan’s fourth general election on January 9 will be a contest between the PDP and the BTP.

December 11, 2023

Nepal Registers First Same-Sex Marriage

By Santosh Sharma Poudel
The order by the Supreme Court is interim, and the registration is temporary. Nepal has still a long way to go.

October 13, 2023

South Asian Countries Are Divided on Hamas Attacks

By Santosh Sharma Poudel
However, all of them expressed support for a two-state solution.

September 28, 2023

China Seeks Reassurance From Visiting Nepali PM Dahal on Taiwan and Tibet Issues

By Santosh Sharma Poudel
The two sides will strengthen cooperation between their domestic security agencies.
September 20, 2023

Why Is the UN Key to Nepal’s Diplomacy?

By Santosh Sharma Poudel
In addition to his address at the U.N. General Assembly, Nepali Prime Minister Dahal has a string of diplomatic engagements lined up in New York.

September 16, 2023

What’s Driving Hindu Nationalism in Nepal?

By Santosh Sharma Poudel
Religious tensions, as opposed to ethnic or caste-based schisms, are relatively new in Nepal. What’s behind the recent upsurge? 

August 28, 2023

Himalayan Risks and Ethical Choices Dog Mountaineering Efforts

By Santosh Sharma Poudel
People are crowding Sagarmatha and other Himalayan peaks, risking their own lives and those of Sherpas, porters and rescue teams.

August 15, 2023

China’s Problem With Nepal

By Santosh Sharma Poudel
Beijing is frustrated with the lack of progress in Nepal’s implementation of Belt and Road projects. But rhetorical bullying of its small neighbor won’t help.

July 31, 2023

Why Nepal Needs to Debate the Role of Its Army

By Santosh Sharma Poudel
When political leaders commented recently about the need to rightsize the Nepal armed forces, former army chiefs and others bristled.
July 21, 2023

High-level Visits Increase Ahead of Nepali PM Dahal’s Visit to China

By Santosh Sharma Poudel
Beijing is apprehensive that Nepal will allow itself to be used by third countries -- the U.S. -- against Chinese interests.

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