Disaster Diplomacy: The United Kingdom’s Engagement in 2015 Nepal Earthquake

Abstract

Disaster diplomacy encourages cooperation among two or more parties nationally and internationally through disaster response activities. Such activities are an opportunity to improve state’s political, economic, military and development sectors. The emergency response and relief are the first phase while approaching disaster diplomacy which usually takes place through humanitarian / foreign aid. In 2015, Nepal faced a massive earthquake and required international support like any other developing countries. Nepal’s earthquake comprised with many international humanitarian and development aid. Among those, the UK is one of the countries that has been supporting Nepal for many decades. The Nepal-UK bilateral relation is embraced with military diplomacy and development cooperation. For the existing countries involved in foreign policy, approach to disaster diplomacy is often successful. Nepal’s relation with the UK is prolonged with the soft power including public diplomacy, economic diplomacy, tourism, military diplomacy and other non-state actors. The success of the UK’s support during Nepal earthquake 2015 is determined by the aid and assistance provided during the phase of response, recovery and preparedness. From the perspective of diplomacy, this study takes an account to challenges (such as the case of Nepal Army officer, Col. Lama and refusal of RAF helicopter carrying British relief) and opportunities (cooperation for post-earthquake recovery and resilience) faced by both countries while accomplishing disaster diplomacy.