The Rise of the Rastriya Swatantra Party and Its Implications for Nepal’s Foreign Policy

Abstract

This study examines the implications of the near two-thirds majority government formed by the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) for Nepal’s foreign policy. Following its unexpected landslide victory in the March 5 mid-term election, the RSP has emerged as a dominant political force capable of making independent policy decisions with minimal reliance on other parliamentary parties. This political shift, rooted in the September 8–9, 2025 Gen Z movement, marks a significant transformation in Nepal’s domestic political landscape. The objective of this research is to assess whether the RSP-led government is likely to recalibrate Nepal’s foreign policy in response to evolving regional geopolitics, particularly in relation to India and China. Adopting a qualitative research design, the study analyzes the party’s election manifesto (referred to as the “contract paper”) and patterns of public political behavior. These sources are complemented by a review of relevant literature. The findings suggest that while the RSP projects a reform-oriented and independent foreign policy stance, structural constraints and geopolitical realities continue to shape Nepal’s external relations. The paper argues that the party’s rise introduces new discursive elements into Nepal’s foreign policy debate, but its practical impact remains constrained by institutional dynamics and regional power asymmetries.