Chief of Army Staff Ashok Raj Sigdel of the Nepali Army departed for an official visit to the United Kingdom on Monday, October 5, 2026, at the invitation of his British counterpart, General Sir Roli Walker. Baladhikrit Rathi Pradip Jung KC will serve as Acting Chief of Army Staff during Sigdel’s absence.
Chief of Army Staff Sigdel’s visit is scheduled to last until October 11, 2026, according to the Nepali Army’s Directorate of Public Relations and Information. The Nepali Army expects the visit to strengthen the long-standing bilateral military relations between the two nations and contribute to Nepal’s foreign policy through military diplomacy.
This marks Chief of Army Staff Sigdel’s first official visit to the United Kingdom since assuming office. The visit follows closely on his official visit to China from September 13 to 19, 2026, less than two weeks prior.
Historical Ties
Nepal and the United Kingdom share a deep and historically significant relationship, with formal diplomatic ties established in 1816. This makes it Nepal’s oldest formal diplomatic relationship with any country. A crucial aspect of this enduring bond has been the recruitment of Gurkha soldiers into the British Army, which began following the 1816 Sugauli Treaty. The relationship was further solidified by the 1923 Nepal-Britain Treaty, which marked the first time Britain formally recognized Nepal as a sovereign nation.
Chief of Army Staff Sigdel, the 45th Chief of Army Staff of the Nepali Army, was appointed by President Ramchandra Paudel on September 9, 2024, based on the government’s recommendation.
Chief of Army Staff Sigdel is expected to conclude his visit and return to Nepal on October 11, 2026. The Nepali Army anticipates that the visit will further solidify the mutual military relationship and contribute to Nepal’s foreign policy through military diplomacy.
The detailed agenda for Chief of Army Staff Sigdel’s meetings with senior British Army officials during his visit has not been explicitly disclosed.
