Visiting US Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources Richard R Verma called on Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli on Friday.

Verma arrived in Kathmandu on Friday on a two-day visit. He is the senior-most US official to visit Nepal since CPN-UML chair Oli became prime minister last month.

According to the prime minister's secretariat, discussions were held on bilateral relations and mutual interests during a meeting at the Prime Minister’s Office, Singha Durbar.

The prime minister expressed gratitude for the continuous support provided by the US government in Nepal’s economic and social development since the 1950s and hoped for continued support in various areas in the days ahead.

Besides continued US support in various sectors, Verma also informed the prime minister that the US intends to support $100 million as foreign military finance to support Nepal’s rotary wing capabilities.

Oli informed the US Deputy Secretary of State that Nepal is in the process of graduating from an LDC (least developed country) by 2026 and that the laws on transitional justice are being formulated based on political consensus.

US Deputy Secretary of State Verma recalled the seven-decade-long relationship between the two countries, noting that the United States is proud to partner in Nepal’s development, said the prime minister’s secretariat. He congratulated Nepal on nearing the conclusion of its transitional justice process.

Soon after he landed in Kathmandu, Verma wrote on social media platform X that he was looking forward to engaging with Nepal government officials and others to strengthen the US-Nepal partnership in support of a more democratic, prosperous, inclusive, and resilient Nepal.

In his X post, he noted that the 77 years of Nepal-US partnership and friendship foster greater cooperation and understanding. “Met with the Prime Minister of Nepal to discuss the US’s support for Nepal’s hard-won democracy, economic potential, and pursuit of a more prosperous future for all Nepalis.”

The foreign ministry stated that the deputy secretary of state for management and resources paid a courtesy call on Foreign Minister Arzu Rana and discussed various aspects of Nepal-US relations, including development cooperation.

According to the US embassy, he met with government officials, USAID’s implementing partners, tea experts, and Nepali business leaders. Verma also met with the US Marine Security Guard Detachment to thank them for their dedicated service in Nepal.

Deputy Secretary Verma shared the United States’ intention to provide $100 million in foreign military finance to support Nepal’s rotary wing capabilities, pending Congressional review and availability of funds, according to a State Department statement issued late Saturday.

Rotary wing aircraft are small drones that have rotorcrafts enabling vertical take-off and landing, autonomous hovering, slow cruise speed, high maneuverability, and higher payload capacity compared to fixed-wing aircraft.

The officials also discussed continued cooperation to support sustainable economic development in Nepal, including through the Millenium Challenge Compact to increase access to clean energy and a USAID-funded Nepal Tea Collective trade promotion activity, according to the statement.

“The deputy secretary of State for Management and Resources Richard Verma had a great visit to Nepal! He met with Prime Minister Oli and Minister of Foreign Affairs Arzu Deuba, discussing US support for Nepal’s plans to shape a brighter, sustainable, and inclusive future for its people and the strengthening of the US-Nepal partnership,” the embassy stated.

Verma shared the news that the US has agreed to fund the purchase of additional new helicopters for the Nepal Army to support disaster response efforts, according to the embassy.

He also met with Millennium Challenge Account Nepal officials to learn about the progress of the MCC Nepal Compact, tasted tea with the USAID Nepal-supported Nepal Tea Collective team in Thamel, and met with leading women entrepreneurs.

The Biden administration has given Verma special assignments. On August 6, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken appointed him a special representative for Ukraine’s economic recovery. At present, he is the second-highest-ranking official at the US State Department.

In Nepal, the US delegation is engaged with senior government officials, development professionals, and business leaders to discuss shared priorities in economic development, women’s empowerment, energy, and people-to-people ties, according to the statement.