The very existence of an independent state heavily depends on how efficiently it can manage its national security. For this, the protection of its territories and national interests play a critical role. Aggression against the territorial integrity and incitement of internal unrest always threaten a country's sovereignty, no matter how big or small that nation is. In today's world, where threats, wars and invasions are taking place, bolstering security is the uttermost requisite for every government across the globe. Conflicts over territories, national interests and sensitive geopolitical issues have resulted in several wars and violent incidents, leading to the collapse of governments, and subsequently, countries.

We witnessed the collapse of the USSR and communist countries in Eastern Europe and ensuing civil wars there owing to the failure of governments to protect their respective national interests. Similarly, the ongoing Ukraine-Russia war had broken out following Russia's claim of some Ukrainian territory as its own. Before invading its immediate neighbour, a former part of the USSR, Russia also accused Ukraine of suppressing the Russians in Ukrainian territories. Geopolitics does play a crucial role in a country's security. If a country cannot respect the sensitivity of geopolitics, it may well face threats to its territories or overall existence.

Currently, the superpowers of the world and their backers have engaged in a break-neck competition to have their sway on the global economy, politics and strategic matters. Even with a minor commotion in the international security situation, a small nation can experience serious impacts on its economic, social and territorial security, for which it must remain constantly aware. While keeping its national interests protected, a small nation like Nepal must perpetually remain alert that it will not play any part in undermining the security of other nations such as its two bigger neighbours that are several folds more powerful than the Himalayan nation in terms of economic and military prowess. However, this does not mean that the tiny sovereign nation, Nepal, cannot upgrade its security apparatus for its well-being.

Voicing the above-mentioned concerns regarding the security of Nepal at present, Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, while addressing the concluding ceremony of the 7th edition of the High-Level National Security Training the other day, opined that coordination among all the concerned bodies is a must to keep all our security standards and organs up-to-date. To bolster our national security, the government has been conducting different activities to make all the national security apparatus and organs such as Nepali Army, Nepal Police, Armed Police Force and other government bodies robust and professional.

Indeed, in the current global scenario punctuated by incidents of aggression, warmongering and threats, the issue pertaining to our national security concerns all of us. We must work towards keeping our nation safe from outside aggression and internal unrest, for which we must keep our security apparatus on perpetual guard. On the other hand, as a tiny nation, we must mobilise our diplomatic capabilities for keeping our national interests intact vis-à-vis our powerful neighbours and other global powers. In this globalised world, Nepal, like many other independent nations, can remain a sovereign, secure and prosperous country by protecting its national security interests whenever threats lurk to upend the much-vaunted issues.