U.S. Army General Visits Kathmandu to Honor Marine Corps Anniversary and Bolster Military Ties

Lieutenant General Joshua M. Rudd, Deputy Commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, arrived in Kathmandu on Friday for a four-day official visit, welcomed by senior officials from the Nepali Army at Tribhuvan International Airport.

Lt. Gen. Rudd’s visit, pre-scheduled months prior, has coincided with the recent U.S. presidential election, drawing some commentary about potential diplomatic implications. However, U.S. Embassy officials in Kathmandu clarified that the visit was planned well in advance.

A key purpose of Lt. Gen. Rudd’s visit is to attend the 249th anniversary celebration of the U.S. Marine Corps, where he will serve as the event’s chief guest on Saturday. A small contingent of U.S. Marines is stationed at Fowara Durbar in Nepal, where they work closely with the Nepali Army Rangers on joint training initiatives.

Lt. Gen. Rudd is scheduled to meet with Nepali Army Chief Ashok Raj Sigdel for bilateral talks, and he may hold additional political discussions, though specifics have not been disclosed. The general’s itinerary also includes a visit to the Peace Operations Training Center in Panchkhal, the Army Command and Staff College in Shivpuri, and a potential mountain flight, weather permitting.

According to a senior Nepali Army official, Lt. Gen. Rudd’s visit underscores the close defense partnership between the U.S. and Nepal, which began in the 1970s. The U.S. has provided Nepal with military aid valued at over $100 million over the past decade, focusing on humanitarian, disaster response, and peacekeeping capabilities. Nepal has also received Skytrucks and helicopters from the U.S., and further military aid is anticipated.

The United States Pacific Command, initially established in 1947, was re-designated as the Indo-Pacific Command in 2018. It is the oldest and largest unified command of the U.S. military, responsible for operations across the Asia-Pacific region, spanning 36 nations and covering 52 percent of the Earth’s surface. Headquartered in Hawaii, this command includes a range of forces, from Army and Marine units to air and naval forces, operating from the U.S. West Coast to the Indian Ocean.