Nepal and the United States have completed 78 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations. The U.S. Embassy in Nepal celebrated the anniversary of Nepal–U.S. relations. On the same day, the embassy welcomed 55 new members into the U.S. Embassy Youth Council Nepal 2025, marking the beginning of a year-long journey in leadership development and learning in collaboration with the embassy.
Nepal and the United States have enjoyed a longstanding friendship. The U.S. officially recognized Nepal in 1947 and has been providing economic assistance since 1951. Currently, U.S. support focuses primarily on Nepal’s economic development, strengthening democratic institutions, trade, security, and humanitarian aid.
Nepal established its embassy in Washington, D.C. in 1958, and shortly thereafter, the U.S. opened its embassy in Kathmandu in 1959.
U.S. policy objectives are centered on helping Nepal build a peaceful, democratic, and prosperous society, with emphasis on promoting good governance, political stability, and economic growth. High-level diplomatic engagement between the two countries is regular, covering a range of issues including aid, trade, and security cooperation.
The U.S. has provided Nepal with various trade preference programs. Nepal benefited from the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) grant for infrastructure development, although this was suspended in 2025 due to an executive order halting foreign aid. The U.S. remains Nepal’s largest bilateral donor of foreign assistance.
The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has played a significant role in sectors such as transportation, communication, public health, agriculture, and energy. The U.S. has also supported Nepal’s peace process and election preparedness. Humanitarian assistance through multilateral organizations has also been substantial.
In security and defense, Nepal and the U.S. continue to collaborate, with the U.S. supporting Nepal’s contributions to regional and global security. Both countries also work together on disaster management and humanitarian aid.
