Lieutenant General Joel “JB” Vowell, the Deputy Commanding General for US Army Pacific (USARPAC) located at Fort Shafter, Hawaii, is arriving on a three day visit to Kathmandu on Sunday.

He will be the senior most army general to visit Nepal after the March 5 election after the landslide victory.

Nepal Army spokesperson Brigadier General Raja Ram Basnet confirmed to the Post that General Vowell is arriving in Kathmandu via Bhutan on Sunday. He will be visiting Birendra Peace Operations Training Center in Panchkhal, Kavre district and will observe the various activities carried out by the Nepal Army.

The centre imparts various kinds of pre–deployment training to the Nepal Army personnel and armies of other countries who participate in peacekeeping operations.

Since the visit is coordinated by the US Embassy, we do not have additional details of his visit, said Basnet. He might meet Chief of Army Staff General Ashok Raj Sigdel and other senior military officials.

On March 12, General Vowell held a meeting with Indian Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi and discussed avenues to further strengthen the India-US defence partnership, according to the Indian Army statement.

“The interaction focused on regional security in the Indo-Pacific, enhancing interoperability through joint military exercises and exploring new avenues of engagement to deepen military-to-military cooperation across multiple domains,” said the army. The meeting reaffirmed the growing strategic convergence and shared commitment of both armies towards addressing emerging security challenges, added the statement.

In another meeting with Lieutenant General Pushpendra Singh of the Indian Army, their discussions focused on regional security dynamics in the Indo-Pacific, expanding military-to-military engagement and enhancing interoperability through joint training and exercises.

Ahead of the March 5 election, another US Army General Admiral Samuel J. Paparo, commander of US Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM), had visited Kathmandu on February 13 and 14 and held talks with senior officials including Foreign Minister Balananda Sharma.

The visit highlighted Nepal’s leadership in promoting regional stability, disaster preparedness, and peacekeeping, a statement issued by the US Indo-Pacific Command Public Affairs said. “The US-Nepal cooperation in these areas benefit Nepali and American citizens throughout the region and through global peacekeeping efforts.”

Paparo met with Foreign Minister Sharma and General Sigdel, Chief of Army Staff of Nepal, to discuss disaster preparedness, humanitarian assistance, and Nepal’s significant contributions to peacekeeping operations.

At the Birendra Peace Operations Training Centre in Panchkhal, Paparo engaged with Nepali peacekeeping professionals and discussed pre-deployment training. The Centre prepares troops for United Nations peacekeeping missions and supports multinational peace operations.

“As part of the visit, Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies (APCSS) and their director, Suzanne P. Vares-Lum, hosted an alumni event for Nepali graduates of APCSS programs. APCSS alumni exchanged ideas, strengthened professional networks, and explored collaborative solutions to regional security challenges,” said the statement.

INDOPACOM works closely with Nepal to strengthen disaster response capabilities through joint exercises, technical assistance, and the provision of non-combat equipment, including helicopters, vehicles, and communication systems, the statement reads further. “Additional US training and logistical support bolster the ability of Nepal’s security forces to conduct peacekeeping and humanitarian operations”

These efforts align with the broader goal of enhancing Nepal’s self-reliance, regional resilience and preparedness, the statement added, and USINDOPACOM is committed to promoting stability in the region by strengthening security cooperation, encouraging peaceful development, responding to contingencies, and deterring aggression.