The ‘Lilliputian dilemma’ and Nepal’s Quest for strategic autonomy in Indo-Pacific: the allure of hedging

Arshid Iqbal Dar

Third World Quarterly, 2025, vol. 46, issue 3, 316-334

Abstract: The rise of the Indo-Pacific geopolitical edifice has re-ignited the debate over great-power politics. How to navigate the geopolitical conundrum of the Indo-Pacific, especially for smaller states, has become a central focus of academic discourse. This article examines how Nepal, as a quintessential small but geopolitical pivot state, is navigating the Indo-Pacific great-power dynamics, especially involving the US, China and India’s interests. The main argument put forth is that to preserve its strategic autonomy, Nepal has found solace in hedging. However, the dominant narrative of external uncertainty stemming from Nepal’s geographical location does not fully explain Kathmandu’s hedging strategy. Instead, the country’s domestic politics offers much as far as its hedging strategy is concerned.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1080/01436597.2025.2465510

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