Bhutan: Friend or Balancing Wheel? (Specials )

• Visit to India by Bhutan’s King Namgyel Wangchuck.

• Bhutan King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck is on an eight-day visit to India, a trip that comes amid renewed push by Bhutan and China for an early settlement of their boundary dispute.

Issues important from the view point of visit:

• China's reported proposal of a land swap with Bhutan under the guise of delimitation and demarcation has sparked worries in India.
• This exchange is suspected to provide China an advantage in the Doklam area, potentially facilitating easier access to the strategically vital "chicken’s neck" in West Bengal’s Siliguri that connects the Northeast to mainland India.
• This maneuver is perceived as China's strategic geopolitical game with Bhutan, prompting questions regarding the involvement of the Bhutanese king in the India-Bhutan-China border issue.

History of India-Bhutan Relations:

• India and Bhutan share an exemplary bilateral relationship characterized by trust, goodwill and mutual understanding at all levels, strong bonds of friendship and close people-to-people contacts.
• Diplomatic relations between India and Bhutan were established in 1968 with the appointment of a resident representative of India in Thimphu.
• Before this India’s relations with Bhutan were looked after by our Political Officer in Sikkim.
• The basic framework of India – Bhutan bilateral relations is the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation of 1949 between the two countries, which was updated and signed during the visit to India of Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck in February 2007.

Indo-Bhutan Treaty of Peace and Friendship, 1949:

The Treaty provides for, among other things, perpetual peace and friendship, free trade and commerce and equal justice to each other’s citizens.

In 2007 the treaty was re-negotiated, and provisions were included to encourage Bhutan’s sovereignty, abolishing the need to take India’s guidance on foreign policy.

Why India and Bhutan need each other?

• Geographical significance:
  • Bhutan shares its borders with India and China, and its strategic location makes it an important buffer state for India's security interests.
  • India has provided Bhutan with assistance in areas such as defense, infrastructure, and communication, which has helped to maintain Bhutan's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
  • India has helped Bhutan build and maintain its border infrastructure, such as roads and bridges, to strengthen its defense capabilities and ensure its territorial integrity.
• Environmental significance:
  • Bhutan is one of the few countries in the world that has pledged to remain carbon-neutral, and India has been a key partner in helping Bhutan achieves this goal.
  • India has provided assistance to Bhutan in areas such as renewable energy, forest conservation, and sustainable tourism.
• Economic Importance:
  • India is Bhutan's largest trading partner, and Bhutan's major export destination.
  • Bhutan's hydropower potential is a significant source of revenue for the country, and India has been instrumental in assisting Bhutan in developing its hydropower projects.
  • India also provides Bhutan with financial assistance for its development projects.

Concern in the relation:

• China's Growing Influence: China's increasing presence in Bhutan, particularly along the disputed border between Bhutan and China, has raised concerns in India.
• India has been Bhutan's closest ally and has played a key role in protecting Bhutan's sovereignty and security.
• However, China's growing economic and military influence in the region poses a challenge to India's strategic interests in Bhutan.
• Border Disputes: India and Bhutan share a 699 km long border, which has been largely peaceful.
• However, there have been some incidents of border incursions by Chinese forces in recent years.
• The Doklam standoff in 2017 was a major flashpoint in the India-China-Bhutan tri-junction. Any escalation of such disputes could strain India-Bhutan relations.