Foreign relations of Bhutan

Diplomatic relations

Bhutan has embassies in Bangladesh, Belgium, India, Kuwait, Australia and Thailand. Conversely, only Bangladesh, India, and Kuwait have embassies in Thimphu. The following is a list of countries with which Bhutan maintains diplomatic relations.

Asia

Bangladesh

Main article: Bangladesh–Bhutan relations

Bangladesh is one of only three 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 transshipment through Bangladeshi ports. They also cooperate in water resources management. Both Bhutan and Bangladesh are members of SAARC and BIMSTEC.

China

Main article: Bhutan–China relations

Bhutan has no diplomatic relations with its northern neighbor, the People's Republic of China, and is one of the few countries that does not have relations with either of the Two Chinas. The border between Bhutan and the PRC has been closed since the invasion of Tibet in 1950, which caused 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 an agreement on border peace and tranquility was signed in 1998: 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 in Hong Kong since 2004.

In late 2005, Bhutan claimed that PLA 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. The Bhutanese newspaper Kuensel has said that China might use the roads to further Chinese claims along the border.

India

Main article: Bhutan–India relations

Historically, ties with India have been close. Both countries signed a first ever Friendship treaty in 1865 between Bhutan and British India. 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 8 February 2007, the Indo-Bhutan Friendship Treaty 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." 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 wherein citizens of both nations can travel freely in other country without passport or visa.

Indonesia

Diplomatic relations between Indonesia and Bhutan were officially established on December 15, 2011. The joint communiqué was signed by Bhutan's Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations (UN), Lhatu Wangchuk, and Indonesia's Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the UN, Hasan Kleib, in New York. Diplomatic affairs between Indonesia and Bhutan are handled by the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia (KBRI) in New Delhi, India.

Israel

Main article: Bhutan–Israel relations

Bhutan and Israel established formal diplomatic relations in 2020, with the key areas of cooperation being economic, technological and agricultural development.

Myanmar

Main article: Bhutan–Myanmar relations

Both countries are a member of BIMSTEC and SASEC. Diplomatic relations were formally established on February 1, 2012.

Nepal

Main article: Bhutan–Nepal relations

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

Philippines

The Philippines and Bhutan formally established diplomatic relations on 6 October 2025. The Philippines has an embassy in New Delhi, India as representative to dialogues with Bhutan. Numerous senators and high-profile personalities from the Philippines have visited Bhutan and have been pushing for the Gross National Happiness to also be applied in the Philippines, citing its effectiveness and efficiency in nation-building, environmental and cultural conservation, and human rights upholding. Filipina senator Loren Legarda, a United Nations Global Champion for Resilience, has been pushing for greater diplomatic relations between the two countries. In September 2014, the Prime Minister of Bhutan visited the Philippines and the Asian Development Bank headquarters in Manila. In 2018, the Philippines sent its engineers to Bhutan's capital in a bid to develop Bhutan's space program that will be launched in May.

South Korea

Bhutan and South Korea established formal relations on 24 September 1987. South Korea granted Bhutan a total of US$6.21 million in aid between 1987 and 2012. Imports into South Korea are about $382,000 and imports into Bhutan are about $3.27 million ().

Other countries

Russia

Main article: Bhutan–Russia relations

Turkey

Both countries established diplomatic relations in 2012. Bhutan and Turkey cooperate through their respective embassies in New Delhi. Trade volume between the two countries was US$1.58 million in 2018 (Bhutanese exports/imports: 1.48/0.1 million USD).

United States

Main article: Bhutan–United States relations

The United States and Bhutan have no official diplomatic ties, however, they both maintain "warm, informal relations" with each other, as well as consular relations.

Bhutan is represented by its permanent mission in the United Nations, while the American embassy in New Delhi is currently accredited for Bhutan.

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 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. All felonies in Bhutan are punishable by a minimum of three years' imprisonment.

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

International cooperation against terrorism

Bhutan cooperates with India to expel 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

Main article: Bhutanese refugees

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.{{cite web | access-date = 6 September 2009}}

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

References

1. "Bilateral relations".
2. Chaudhury, Dipanjan Roy. "Bhutan doesn't have diplomatic ties with any of the 5 UNSC permanent members". The Economic Times.
3. Bedjaoui, Mohammed. (1991). "International Law: Achievements and Prospects". Martinus Nijhoff Publishers.
4. "Foreign Relation and Trade". [[Government of Bhutan]].
5. (18 July 2008). "Constitution of the Kingdom of Bhutan (English)". Government of Bhutan.
6. (14 January 2018). "Bhutan, India celebrate 50 years of diplomatic relations".
7. "Bilateral Relations".
8. (14 September 2012). "Establishment of diplomatic relations between the Kingdom of Bhutan and the Republic of Slovenia". Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bhutan.
9. (14 September 2012). "Establishment of diplomatic relations between the Kingdom of Bhutan and the United Arab Emirates". Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bhutan.
10. (3 October 2012). "Establishment of diplomatic relations between the Kingdom of Bhutan and the Republic of Armenia". Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bhutan.
11. (1993). "Nepal and Bhutan: country studies". [[Federal Research Division]].
12. (1 December 2005). "中国不丹同意平等友好协商早日解决边界问题". China.com News.
13. [http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/7598_1583871,000500020006.htm Hindustan times article] {{webarchive. link. (29 December 2007)
14. "Indo-Bhutan Friendship Treaty". [[Government of India]].
15. (1949). "Treaty of 1949". [[Government of India]].
16. "Establishment of diplomatic relations between the Kingdom of Bhutan and the Republic of Indonesia – Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade".
17. "Accreditation Area - Ministry of Foreign Affairs Portal".
18. (12 December 2020). "Israel establishes 'formal diplomatic relations' with Bhutan".
19. "Bhutan-Myanmar Relations – Royal Bhutanese Embassy, Bangkok".
20. (November 2005). "Country Profile: Nepal". [[Federal Research Division]], [[Library of Congress]].
21. (7 October 2025). "PH, Bhutan establish formal diplomatic relations". [[Philippine News Agency]].
22. (5 September 2014). "Bhutan Prime Minister Visits ADB to Celebrate Three-Decade Partnership".
23. "BHUTAN-1 expected to be in space by May".
24. "Press Release". Government of Bhutan.
25. "Bhutan". Government of South Korea.
26. "Economic Relations between Turkey and Bhutan". Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkey.
27. "Economic Development and Social Changes in Bhutan." pp. 82–99 in [[Urmila Phadnis]], S.D. Muni, and Kalim Bahadur (eds.), Domestic Conflicts in South Asia. New Delhi: South Asian Publishers, 1986.
28. (29 July 2020). "U.S. Relations With Bhutan".
29. "About the Consulate General".
30. (1991). "Extradition Act, 1989 (1991)". [[Government of Bhutan]].
31. (11 August 2004). "Penal Code of Bhutan". [[Government of Bhutan]].
32. IRIN. (10 November 2008). "Nepal: Bhutanese refugees find new life beyond the camps". UNHCR Refworld.
33. Government of Canada. (9 December 2008). "Resettling Bhutanese Refugees – Update on Canada's Commitment". Citizenship and Immigration Canada.