• Bhutan's King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck is on a two-day official visit to India, aiming to strengthen ties.
• The King's visit includes meetings with Indian leadership, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
• The relationship between India and Bhutan, dating back to 1949, has expanded to include digital infrastructure, education, and space technology.
• The visit is expected to advance various initiatives, further cementing the long-standing friendship and exploring new frontiers of collaboration between India and Bhutan.

In a significant diplomatic event, His Majesty the King of Bhutan, Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, arrived in New Delhi for a two-day official visit. The King, accompanied by Queen Jetsun Pema Wangchuck and senior officials from the Royal Government of Bhutan, was warmly received by India's External Affairs Minister, S. Jaishankar. The visit, which concludes on Friday, is a testament to the deep-rooted ties and mutual respect between the two neighbouring nations.

Jaishankar, in his welcoming post on social media, stated that the King's visit is expected to further strengthen the unique bonds of friendship between India and Bhutan. During his stay, the Bhutan King will hold a series of bilateral meetings with the Indian leadership to review the diplomatic ties. The King is also scheduled to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi, marking another chapter in the ongoing high-level engagements between the two countries.

Strengthening of Historical Ties

The relationship between India and Bhutan is extraordinary and exemplary, underpinned by mutual trust, goodwill, and understanding. The foundation of these ties dates back to 1949, when the two countries signed the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation, which was renewed in February 2007 to reflect evolving dynamics. Formal diplomatic relations were established in 1968, further solidifying this enduring partnership.

The economic interdependence between the two nations is a notable feature of their bilateral relationship. Approximately 50,000 Indian citizens are employed in Bhutan across various sectors, including construction, education, and infrastructure projects. Some workers even commute daily from India to Bhutan's border towns for their jobs. This integration demonstrates the depth of cooperation and shared prosperity between the two nations.

Expanding Scope of Collaboration

The scope of collaboration has expanded significantly in recent years, moving beyond traditional areas like hydropower to include emerging sectors such as digital infrastructure, education, and space technology. Bhutan became the second country to adopt the BHIM App, facilitating financial linkages, and India has supported Bhutan's 'Digital Drukyul' initiative, which aims to build a robust optical fibre network across all 20 districts.

Space cooperation is another promising area of collaboration. Following the 2019 visit of India's Prime Minister to Bhutan, the jointly developed 'India-Bhutan SAT' was launched in November 2022. This initiative, along with other technological partnerships, underscores the progressive nature of the bilateral relationship.

In education, India continues to support Bhutan in addressing shortages of STEM teachers, enhancing the country's human resource capabilities. The King's visit provides an opportunity to review and advance these initiatives, further cementing the long-standing friendship and exploring new frontiers of collaboration between India and Bhutan.

Historically, India and Bhutan have always maintained a close and friendly relationship. In 2024, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was conferred the 'Order of the Druk Gyalpo' by the King of Bhutan, marking him as the first foreign leader to receive the highest Bhutanese civilian award. This event further solidified the strong ties between the two nations.