Why Modi Chose Bhutan For His First Foreign Visit

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is in Bhutan on a two-day visit (June 15-16) to the Himalayan nation – his first foreign visit as the India premier. But why did he choose Bhutan as his first foreign destination after assuming office in May this year?

Before his departure, Modi said Bhutan was a ‘natural choice’ for his visit because of the ‘unique and special relationship’ between the two countries. “Bound by common interests and shared prosperity, India and Bhutan enjoy a unique and special relationship, which has been forged by ties of geography, history and culture. Therefore, Bhutan as the destination for my first visit abroad as Prime Minister is a natural choice,” he said. Modi also described the bilateral ties as B2B relations – Bharat-to-Bhutan relations.

Relations between India and Bhutan have always been warm and friendly. Bhutan, along with Nepal, is India’s closest friend in the neighbourhood. India is the largest trading partner of Bhutan. In fact, Bhutan is fully dependent on India for its trade as India accounts for 98% of its exports and 90% of its imports.

India has also played a crucial role in the infrastructural development and security in Bhutan. India provides military training to the Bhutanese army. Bhutan does not have air force and it depends on the Indian Air Force for support. Since it is a landlocked country, it does not have navy.

The bilateral relations between the two countries have been close historically. In 1949, India and Bhutan signed the Treaty of Friendship, under which Bhutan agreed to let India ‘guide’ its foreign policy while both nations would consult each other on foreign policies.

China’s annexation of Tibet brought both the nations even closer. In 1958, the then Indian Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, went to Bhutan and on his return, announced in the Parliament that “any aggression against Bhutan would be seen as aggression against India.”

Bhutan, too, has always stood by India. It supported India on the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) issue and the Pokhran nuclear tests. In 2003, Bhutan launched military operations against the United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA), which had established some bases in the Bhutanese territory.

Modi’s visit assumes more significance as it comes before the talks between Bhutan and China. China, of late, has been keen on establishing diplomatic ties with Bhutan.