Great Power Rivalry in the Himalayas: Nepal as a Strategic Buffer Zone

The Himalayan region has re-emerged as a critical geopolitical frontier amid intensifying great power competition in Asia. Situated between India and China, Nepal occupies a strategically significant position that increasingly attracts external attention, including from the United States. This paper examines Nepal’s evolving role as a strategic buffer zone within the broader context of great power rivalry in the Himalayas.