Giving continuity to the steady stream of high-ranking US officials visiting Nepal since the formation of the Balendra Shah government on March 27, Sarah B Rogers, US Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs, is arriving in Kathmandu on a three-day visit beginning May 30, a diplomatic source told the Post.

She will be the highest-ranking US diplomat to visit Kathmandu since the Shah administration took office. Rogers is senior to the two US officials—Samir Paul Kapur and Sergio Gor—who visited Kathmandu, separately, in April.

In the US State Department hierarchy, the rank of under secretary of state is above the assistant secretary and below deputy secretary. At present, six under secretaries of state serve in the State Department, and Rogers is one of them.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has already communicated to the Home Ministry about her visit and requested all necessary support and facilitation at Tribhuvan International Airport, a senior security official told the Post.

Earlier, Samir Paul Kapur, the US assistant secretary of state for South and Central Asian Affairs, arrived in Kathmandu on April 20 and held talks with Rastriya Swatantra Party chair Rabi Lamichhane, Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal and Finance Minister Swarnim Wagle during his three-day visit. Discussions centered on strengthening bilateral relations and improving Nepal’s investment climate.

A week after Kapur concluded his Nepal visit, US President Donald Trump’s special envoy for South and Central Asia, Sergio Gor, also visited Kathmandu and held talks with Foreign Minister Khanal and Finance Minister Wagle. Their meetings focussed on improving the business climate, attracting foreign investment, expanding economic ties, and promoting mutual prosperity.

Neither official got a chance to meet with Prime Minister Shah, though there was no record of them seeking a meeting with him.

Now, Rogers, who oversees the public diplomacy and public affairs for US missions across the globe from the State Department, is visiting Nepal at a time when a senior US Embassy official has recently summited Mt Everest, becoming the first serving US diplomat to scale the world’s tallest mountain.

It is unclear if Rogers has sought a meeting with Prime Minister Balendra Shah. But, as per diplomatic convention, she is expected to pay a courtesy call on Khanal and meet other officials, the Nepali diplomatic source who is knowledgeable on the matter, said.

“In a milestone for mountaineering and diplomacy, US Embassy Nepal’s Public Affairs Chief, Mike Harker, successfully summited Mount Everest on May 20, at 9:10 am, becoming the first serving American Foreign Service Officer to scale the world’s highest peak,” the US Embassy said in a statement. “This feat is a proud moment for Freedom 250, the upcoming 250th anniversary of American independence, serving as a reminder of the American spirit of drive, grit, and exploration.”

A diplomatic source hinted to the Post that a grand ceremony is being organised on May 31 to honour Harker for his successful summit, and Rogers will attend as the chief guest. In conjunction with the event, the US Embassy in Kathmandu has organised Nepal’s Ascent Summit 2026 on May 31, which Rogers is scheduled to attend.

The event will explore how expedition operators, outdoor brands, tourism stakeholders, and industry partners are working together to shape the next chapter of Everest, said the US Embassy.

“The Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy leads Department efforts to expand and strengthen the relationships between the people of the United States and citizens of other countries,” the State Department said in a statement, adding, “The bureaus and offices reporting to the under secretary advance national interests by seeking to engage, inform, and understand the perspectives of foreign audiences.”