India-Bhutan Relations

• 07 Apr 2018

Marking the Golden Jubilee of the establishment of formal diplomatic relations between India and Bhutan, the Prime Minister of Bhutan, H.E. DashoTshering Tobgay is visiting India from 5-7 July 2018.

• During the visit, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Bhutanese counterpart held talks on defence, security, strategic cooperation and development cooperation between the two countries.

Other Takeaways

• Review of bilateral economic and hydro-power co-operation, including the progress in the implementation of the on-going GoI-assisted-hydro-electric projects in Bhutan.
• Reaffirmation in their commitment to further strengthen collaboration in the hydropower sector in the spirit of close friendship and co-operation that characterize relations between India and Bhutan.
• In their talks, the two PMs are also expected to deliberate on the situation at the Doklam tri-junction, the site of the 73-day-long standoff between Indian and Chinese armies last year.

India-Bhutan Relations

• 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 India’s Political Officer in Sikkim.
• The basic framework of India- Bhutan bilateral relations was the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation signed in 1949 between the two countries, which was revised in February 2007.
• The India-Bhutan Friendship Treaty not only reflects the contemporary nature of their relationship but also lays the foundation for their future development in the 21st century.