Nepal opens diplomatic relations with the Federated States of Micronesia, taking its count to 185

14 September 2026

Nepal has established diplomatic relations with the Federated States of Micronesia, a Pacific island country. The two sides signed a joint communique through their permanent representatives at the United Nations in New York. Nepal was represented by its Permanent Representative Lok Bahadur Thapa, and Micronesia by its Permanent Representative Jeem S. Lippwe. The Nepali foreign ministry said the new relationship takes to 185 the number of countries with which Nepal has diplomatic relations. Nepal has been widening its circle of partners among small states, and had announced relations with Guinea-Bissau earlier in the same month. For Nepal, closer ties with Pacific island countries also fit its climate diplomacy, which argues that mountain countries and island countries face the same crisis from opposite ends. The Maldives and Samoa were among the co-hosts of Nepal's own mountains-and-oceans event at the United Nations soon afterwards.