Foreign relations of Bhutan

Bhutan
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Bhutan has diplomatic relations with 52 states and the European Union.^[1][2]

In 1971, sponsored by India, Bhutan began to develop its foreign relations by joining the United Nations, though it has no diplomatic relations with any of the permanent members on the UN Security Council. In 1981, Bhutan joined the International Monetary Fund and World Bank, followed by the World Health Organization and UNESCO in 1982. It is also an active member of SAARC. Bhutan is currently a member of 45 international organizations.^[3]

Under Article 20 of the Constitution of Bhutan enacted in 2008, Bhutan's foreign relations fall under the purview of the Druk Gyalpo on the advice of the Executive, namely the Prime Minister and other Ministers of the Lhengye Zhungtshog including the Minister of Foreign Affairs.^[4]

India

Historically, ties with India have been close. Both countries signed a first ever Friendship treaty in 1865 between Bhutan and British India. However, when Bhutan became a monarchy, British India was the first country to recognize it and renewed the treaty in 1910. Bhutan was the first country to recognize Indian independence and renewed the age old treaty with the new government in 1949, including a clause that India would assist Bhutan in foreign relations. On February 8, 2007, the Indo-Bhutan Friendship Treaty^[5] was substantially revised under the Bhutanese King, Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck. In the Treaty of 1949 Article 2 read as "The Government of India undertakes to exercise no interference in the internal administration of Bhutan. On its part the Government of Bhutan agrees to be guided by the advice of the Government of India in regard to its external relations."^[6] In the revised treaty this now reads as, "In keeping with the abiding ties of close friendship and cooperation between Bhutan and India, the Government of the Kingdom of Bhutan and the Government of the Republic of India shall cooperate closely with each other on issues relating to their national interests. Neither government shall allow the use of its territory for activities harmful to the national security and interest of the other." The revised treaty also includes in it the preamble "Reaffirming their respect for each other's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity", an element that was absent in the earlier version. The Indo-Bhutan Friendship Treaty of 2007 strengthens Bhutan's status as an independent and sovereign nation.

There also exists bi-lateral agreement between Bhutanese and Indian Government where-in citizens of both nations can travel freely in other country without passport and visa.

People's Republic of China

Main article: Bhutan–China relations

Bhutan has no diplomatic relations with its northern neighbor, the People's Republic of China. The border between Bhutan and China has been closed since the invasion of Tibet in 1959, causing an influx of refugees. The border also remains undelineated; in 1961 China published a map that altered the traditional border. Tensions have since lessened, especially after the signing of a 1998 agreement on border peace and tranquility, the first bilateral agreement between China and Bhutan. Despite the lack of formal diplomatic relations, Bhutan has also maintained an Honorary Consul in Macau since 2000 and Hong Kong since 2004.

In late 2005, Bhutan claimed that Chinese soldiers were building roads and bridges within Bhutanese territory. Bhutanese Foreign Minister Khandu Wangchuk took up the matter with Chinese authorities after the issue was raised in the Bhutanese parliament. In response, Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang of the People's Republic of China has said that the border remains in dispute and that the two sides are continuing to work for a peaceful and cordial resolution of the dispute.^[7] The Bhutanese newspaper Kuensel has said that China might use the roads to further Chinese claims along the border.^[8]

Bangladesh

Bangladesh is one of only two nations to maintain a residential embassy in Thimphu. Bhutan was the first country in the world to recognize Bangladeshi independence in 1971. The two states have agreed to develop hydropower in the Himalayas, as well as initiate free trade and transhipment through Bangladeshi ports. They also cooperate in water resources management.

Both Bhutan and Bangladesh are members of SAARC and BIMSTEC.

Nepal

Nepal and Bhutan established relations in 1983. However since 1992, relations with Nepal have been tense due to the repatriation of refugees from Bhutan.^[9]

Pakistan

Pakistan and Bhutan established relations in 1988.

Russia

Main article: Bhutan–Russia relations

Bhutan has no diplomatic relations with Russia.

Other countries

Bhutan maintains diplomatic relations with sixteen European nations: Andorra; Austria; Belgium; Czech Republic; Denmark; Finland; Luxembourg; the Netherlands; Norway; Poland; Serbia; Slovakia; Slovenia; Spain (with whom it established relations in February 2011^[10]); Sweden; and Switzerland, which form the "Friends of Bhutan" group, along with Japan, which contributes towards development projects in Bhutan.

In addition to Bangladesh, India, Japan, Nepal, and Pakistan, Bhutan maintains diplomatic relations with nineteen other Asian nations: Afghanistan; Armenia; Azerbaijan; Bahrain; Burma; Indonesia; Kazakhstan; Kuwait; the Maldives; Mongolia; Oman; Singapore; South Korea; Sri Lanka; Tajikistan; Thailand; Turkey; the United Arab Emirates; and Vietnam, as well as with Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Egypt, Fiji, Mauritius, Morocco, and Swaziland.^[11] Other countries, such as the United States and the United Kingdom, have no formal diplomatic relations with Bhutan, but maintain informal contact through their respective embassies in New Delhi and Bhutanese Permanent mission to the United Nations in New York City. The United Kingdom has an Honorary Consul resident in Thimphu.^[12]

Transnational issues

Bhutan has relations with other nations based on transnational issues. Among these issues are extradition, terrorism, and refugees. To a limited extent, Bhutanese law provides frameworks for cooperation with countries with which Bhutan has no formal mission.

Extradition

Bhutan has a legislated policy on extradition of criminals, both to and from the kingdom. Any nation, with or without formal relations, may request the extradition of fugitives who abscond to Bhutan. The Extradition Act requires nations to provide "all relevant evidence and information" about the accused, after which the Royal Government may in its discretion refer the matter to the High Court of Bhutan. The Court may then issue a summons or warrant, conduct an inquiry, and collect evidence, holding the accused for a maximum of 30 days. Alternatively, the Royal Government may refer the matter to the courts for trial within Bhutan. Bhutan imposes punishments for offenses committed in treaty states generally, and for offenses in other states resulting in return to Bhutan. Offenses are weighed according to gravity, determined by a schedule and two-part test: extraditable offenses are those enumerated (including murder, theft, forgery, and smuggling), or which in Bhutan would be punished by a prison term exceeding twelve months.^[13] All felonies in Bhutan are punishable by a minimum of three years' imprisonment.^[14]

Bhutan will refuse requests for extradition if the Royal Government or its courts determine the person is accused of a political offense.^[13]

International terrorism

Bhutan cooperates with India to expel Indian Nagaland separatists; lacking any treaty describing the boundary, Bhutan and China continue negotiations to establish a common boundary alignment to resolve territorial disputes arising from substantial cartographic discrepancies, the largest of which lie in Bhutan's northwest and along the Chumbi salient.

Refugee resettlement

The U.S. has offered to resettle 60,000 of the 107,000 Bhutanese refugees of Nepalese origin now living in seven U.N. refugee camps in southeastern Nepal. Six other nations—Australia, Canada, Norway, Netherlands, New Zealand and Denmark—have offered to resettle 10,000 each.^[15]

Other countries also operate resettlement programs in the camps.^[16] Norway has already settled 200 Bhutanese refugees, and Canada has agreed to accept up to 5,000 through to 2012.^[17]

Diplomatic relations and missions

COUNTRY	YEAR RELATIONS ESTABLISHED[18]	MISSION TO BHUTAN	LOCATION	MISSION OF BHUTAN	LOCATION	NOTES
Afghanistan	2010			Yes	[19]
Andorra	2012
Argentina	2012[20]
Armenia	2012[21]
Australia	2002	Yes	New Delhi[22]	Yes	Bangkok[23]	The ambassador of the Australian High Commission in New Delhi is accredited to Bhutan.[22] The ambassador the Bhutanese Embassy in Bangkok is accredited to Australia.[23] Bhutan has an honorary consulate in Sydney.[24]
Austria	1989	Yes	New Delhi[25]	Yes	Geneva[26]	The ambassador of the Permanent Mission of Bhutan to the United Nations in Geneva is accredited to Austria.[26] The ambassador of the Austrian Embassy in New Delhi is accredited to Bhutan.[25] The Austrian Development Agency maintains an office in Thimphu.[27]
Azerbaijan	2013[28]
Bahrain	1992			Yes	Kuwait City[29]	The ambassador the Bhutanese Embassy in Kuwait is accredited to Bahrain.[29]
Bangladesh	1973	Yes	Thimphu[30]	Yes	Dhaka[19]
Belgium	2009			Yes	Brussels[19]	Bhutanese Ambassador to Belgium is also accredited to Denmark, Finland, the Netherlands, Sweden and the European Union and the European Commission
Brazil	2009[31]			Yes		Main article: Bhutan–Brazil relations
Brunei				Yes	New Delhi
Canada	2003	Yes	New Delhi[32]	Yes	New York City[33]	The ambassador of the Permanent Mission of Bhutan in New York City is accredited to Canada.[33] The ambassador of the High Commission of Canada in New Delhi is accredited to Bhutan.[32] The University of New Brunswick operates the Canadian Cooperation Office in Thimphu on behalf of the Canadian International Development Agency.[34]
Colombia	2012[35]
Costa Rica	2012
Cuba	2011[36]
Czech Republic	2012
Denmark	1985	Yes	New Delhi[37]	Yes	Brussels	Main article: Bhutan–Denmark relations
Egypt	2012[38]
European Union	1985	Yes	New Delhi[39]	Yes	Brussels	The ambassador of the Embassy of Bhutan to Belgium in Brussels is accredited to the EU and the European Commission. The ambassador of the Delegation of the European Commission in New Delhi is accredited to Bhutan.[39]
Fiji	2011[40]
Finland	1986	Yes	New Delhi[41]	Yes	Brussels	The ambassador of the Finnish Embassy in New Delhi is accredited to Bhutan.[41] The ambassador of the Embassy of Bhutan to Belgium in Brussels is accredited to Finland.
India	1968	Yes	Thimphu[42]	Yes	New Delhi[19]	India also maintains a consulate-general in Phuntsholing which was upgraded from a representative office on 17 February 2007.[43]
Indonesia	2011[44]
Japan	1986	Yes	New Delhi[45]			The Japanese Embassy in New Delhi is accredited to Bhutan.[45] The embassy of Bhutan in New Delhi is accredited to Japan[46] The Japan International Cooperation Agency has an office in Thimphu.[47]
Kazakhstan	2012[48]
Republic of Korea	1987	Yes	New Delhi[49]			The ambassador of the Bhutanese Embassy in Dhaka is accredited to South Korea[50] The ambassador of the South Korean Embassy in New Delhi is accredited to Bhutan.[49] Bhutan has an honorary consulate in Seoul[24]
Kuwait	1983	Yes	Thimphu	Yes	Kuwait City[19]
Luxembourg	2011
Maldives	1984			Yes	Dhaka[51]	The ambassador of Bhutanese Embassy in Dhaka is accredited to Maldives.[51]
Mauritius	2012[52]
Mongolia	2012[53]
Morocco	2011[54]
Myanmar	2012[55]
Nepal	1983	Yes	New Delhi[56]	Yes	New Delhi[57]	The ambassador of the Bhutanese Embassy in New Delhi is accredited to Nepal.[57] The ambassador of the Nepalese Embassy in New Delhi is accredited to Bhutan.[56]
Netherlands	1985	Yes	New Delhi[58]	Yes	Brussels	The ambassador of the Embassy of Bhutan to Belgium in Brussels is accredited to the Netherlands. The ambassador of the Dutch Embassy in New Delhi is accredited to Bhutan.[58] The Netherlands Development Organisation has an office in Thimphu,[59] which acts as an honorary consulate.[60]
Norway	1985	Yes	New Delhi[61]	Yes	Geneva[62]	The ambassador of the Norwegian Embassy in New Delhi is accredited to Bhutan.[61] The ambassador of the Permanent Mission of Bhutan to the United Nations in Geneva is accredited to Norway.[62]
Oman	2013[63]
Pakistan	1988
Poland	2012[64]
Serbia	2011
Singapore	2002	Yes	New Delhi[65]	Yes	Bangkok[66]	The ambassador of the Bhutanese Embassy in Bangkok is accredited to Singapore.[66] The ambassador of the Singaporean embassy in New Delhi is accredited to Bhutan.[65]
Slovakia	2012[67]
Slovenia	2012[68]
Spain	2011	Yes	New Delhi
Sri Lanka	1987	Yes	New Delhi[69]	Yes	Dhaka[51]	The ambassador of the Sri Lankan High Commission in New Delhi is accredited to Bhutan.[69] The ambassador of the Bhutanese Embassy in Dhaka is accredited to Sri Lanka.[51] Bhutan has an honorary consulate in Colombo[24]
Swaziland	2012
Sweden	1985	Yes	New Delhi[70]	Yes	Geneva[71]	The ambassador of the Swedish embassy in New Delhi is accredited to Bhutan.[70] The ambassador of the Permanent Mission of Bhutan to the United Nations in Geneva is accredited to Sweden.[71]
Switzerland	1985	Yes	New Delhi[72]	Yes	Geneva[19]	The ambassador of the Swiss embassy in New Delhi is accredited to Bhutan.[72] The ambassador of the Permanent Mission of Bhutan to the United Nations in Geneva is accredited to Switzerland.[73] Helvetas has an office in Bhutan.[74]
Tajikistan	2013[75]
Thailand	1989			Yes	Bangkok[19]	Thailand has an honorary consulate in Thimphu.[76]
Turkey	2012[67]
United Arab Emirates	2012[77]
Vietnam	2012[78]

See also

• List of diplomatic missions of Bhutan
• List of diplomatic missions in Bhutan

Notes and references

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Department of State (Background Notes).

Further reading

• Marian Gallenkamp (2010). "Between China, India and the Refugees: Understanding Bhutan’s National Security Scenario" (PDF). Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies (IPCS). Retrieved 2013-02-05. 

See also

• List of diplomatic missions of Bhutan
• Bhutan House

External links

• "Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Royal Government of Bhutan". Government of Bhutan. Retrieved 2011-03-29. 

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