Foreign Minister Saud Cancels Finland Visit Amid Speculation of Cabinet Reshuffle

Minister for Foreign Affairs NP Saud has abruptly canceled his planned visit to Finland. Scheduled to depart for Helsinki on Sunday evening, Saud was set to participate in the 2nd United Nations LDC Future Forum, slated for March 5-6.

The decision to cancel his trip comes amidst speculation surrounding a potential cabinet reshuffle in Nepal. Ministers from the Nepali Congress (NC) recently convened for a meeting with party president Sher Bahadur Deuba, intensifying discussions on the matter.

Saud, who was to address the opening session of the Forum in his capacity as the Chair of the Global Coordination Bureau of the Group of Least Developed Countries (LDCs), cited unforeseen circumstances for the cancellation. His participation as a panelist in the ministerial dialogue titled “Strategies to Accelerate Innovation and Structural Transformation” was also anticipated.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs had previously issued a press statement outlining his agenda for the visit, including bilateral meetings with Finland’s Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen and other officials.

Saud’s decision to withdraw from the Finland trip has raised speculation that a leadership change at the foreign ministry might be imminent, given the concurrent discussions regarding a cabinet reshuffle. The developments hint at potential shifts in Nepal’s diplomatic landscape in the near future.