How the India-Bhutan partnership redefines neighbourhood diplomacy

In the decades to come, the India-Bhutan partnership will be tested by new challenges: climate change, transnational migration, technological transformation, and shifting power equations in Asia. Yet, if history is any guide, this relationship will continue to evolve through dialogue, respect, and adaptability–Dipak Kurmi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Bhutan reaffirms one of the most resilient and harmonious partnerships in India's foreign policy-a relationship that has weathered the changing tides of geopolitics and remained anchored in mutual trust, respect, and shared strategic interests. Amid widespread pessimism about India's regional diplomacy, the India-Bhutan equation stands apart as an enduring success story - proof that asymmetry in size and power need not breed friction but can instead foster stability when guided by respect and restraint. The visit is not merely ceremonial; it is a reaffirmation of India's continuing faith in Bhutan's future and an acknowledgement of the strength that quiet diplomacy can yield when paired with empathy and consistency.

Modi's two-day trip, which coincides with Bhutan's efforts to diversify its economy and enhance its international profile, symbolizes India's unwavering commitment to its Himalayan neighbour's security and development. It is also a moment to celebrate the deep spiritual and cultural continuum that binds the two nations. The exposition of the sacred Buddha relics from Piprahwa in Bhutan this week illustrates how spiritual heritage continues to underpin diplomatic warmth. Beyond the ritual courtesies and project inaugurations, the visit offers a timely occasion to reflect on how the India-Bhutan partnership evolved from the rigid structures of postcolonial treaties to a modern, sovereign relationship defined by mutual confidence and what lessons it holds for India's broader neighbourhood diplomacy.

The roots of modern India-Bhutan relations trace back to the 1949 Treaty of Friendship, a document born of the geopolitical realities of the early Cold War period. India, having just gained independence, inherited the colonial architecture of protectorates and buffer states from the British Raj - a system designed to shield the empire's northern frontiers. Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru largely retained this model when signing security treaties with Bhutan, Nepal, and Sikkim between 1949 and 1950. Under the 1949 treaty, Bhutan agreed to be "guided by India" in its external affairs, while India, in return, pledged non-interference in Bhutan's domestic matters. This arrangement was perhaps inevitable in that era, but as nationalism surged across the Himalayan belt and as global power balances evolved, it became increasingly anachronistic. The rise of the United States, the Soviet Union, and especially China as actors in South Asia rendered the protectorate model unsustainable.

While the framework of control and guidance collapsed elsewhere, Bhutan charted a remarkably distinct course. Nepal, for instance, defied the constraints of its treaty with India and pursued a fiercely independent but often confrontational path, while Sikkim's integration into the Indian Union in 1975 marked the end of its separate status. Bhutan, by contrast, managed a delicate balancing act - expanding its autonomy without provoking antagonism in New Delhi. This success was not accidental but born of strategic prudence and visionary leadership in both capitals. Bhutan's rulers, recognising India's centrality to their security and economic stability, opted for gradual evolution rather than abrupt rupture. India, for its part, learnt to exercise restraint and sensitivity, avoiding the paternalistic overreach that often marred its dealings with other neighbours.

This maturity of leadership, both in Thimphu and Delhi, ensured that the relationship was not merely stable but constructive. From the 1950s onwards, India played a vital role in helping Bhutan build its administrative infrastructure, modernise its armed forces, and lay the foundations of a sustainable economy. The launch of hydropower cooperation in the 1960s became a cornerstone of this engagement - a mutually beneficial venture that transformed Bhutan into a clean energy hub and provided India with renewable electricity. The hydropower sector came to symbolise the success of a model based not on dependency, but on shared prosperity. Through decades of collaboration, Bhutan's per capita income rose dramatically, literacy improved, and the country became a global exemplar of balanced development, guided by its unique philosophy of Gross National Happiness.

Modi's presence in Thimphu today carries deep symbolic resonance, especially as Bhutan celebrates the 70th birthday of His Majesty Jigme Singye Wangchuck, the Fourth Druk Gyalpo - revered as K-4 - whose long reign from 1972 to 2006 transformed Bhutan into a modern, stable, and confident state. K-4's statesmanship was instrumental in navigating Bhutan through regional turbulence, preserving its sovereignty while maintaining a trusted relationship with India. His voluntary abdication in 2006 and the peaceful transition to a constitutional monarchy marked a historic shift - the dawn of Bhutanese democracy. His son and successor, King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck (K-5), has since carried forward his vision, presiding over a maturing democracy that combines traditional values with modern governance.

India, sensitive to Bhutan's democratic evolution, wisely recalibrated its policies to align with these internal transformations. The end of the Cold War, Bhutan's democratisation, and the expanding web of global interconnections necessitated a new framework based on sovereign equality. The 2007 revision of the Treaty of Friendship between the two nations was thus a landmark in India's regional diplomacy. The most significant amendment was the removal of the clause that required Bhutan to be "guided" by India in its foreign affairs. The revised treaty instead enshrined "mutual respect for each other's independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity"-a clear recognition of Bhutan's growing agency in global affairs. Both sides also pledged not to allow the use of their territories for activities harmful to the other's national interests.

This redefinition of ties marked a turning point. It reflected India's growing confidence in its partnership with Bhutan and Bhutan's commitment to remain a close and trusted neighbour, even as it expanded its diplomatic horizons. The 2007 treaty did not dilute the relationship; it deepened it by removing structural irritants and embedding equality at its core. This shift was an act of strategic wisdom - one that acknowledged Bhutan's aspirations while ensuring that India's security and developmental interests remained intertwined with Thimphu's stability and prosperity. Yet, it also imposed on India the continuing responsibility of nurturing the relationship amid an increasingly complex geopolitical environment - particularly with the rise of China as a Himalayan and global power.

China's growing assertiveness in South Asia has redrawn the strategic map of the Himalayas. Bhutan, which shares a long and disputed border with China, occupies a position of extraordinary sensitivity. It is one of the few countries in the world without formal diplomatic ties with Beijing, yet the two sides have engaged in regular boundary negotiations for decades. The Doklam plateau-the site of the tense India-China military standoff in 2017-epitomises the delicate equilibrium Bhutan must maintain. While Thimphu seeks a peaceful and fair boundary settlement with China, it has been careful not to compromise its sovereignty or India's core security concerns. Bhutan's diplomacy here has been a master class in caution and composure: maintaining dialogue with China while keeping its closest security partnership-with India-firmly intact.

Despite these pressures, Bhutan has broadened its international outreach with remarkable finesse. It has cultivated robust partnerships with Japan, South Korea, Singapore, and several European nations. Its engagement in global platforms, including the United Nations and various environmental and developmental forums, has expanded its visibility. Thimphu's foreign policy reflects quiet ambition - to diversify economic and diplomatic ties without undermining the special relationship with India. This is evident in new hydropower ventures, the proposed cross-border rail link between Gelephu and Kokrajhar, digital connectivity initiatives, and educational exchanges that bind young Bhutanese and Indians more closely than ever.

The India-Bhutan model, thus, offers profound lessons for managing asymmetrical relationships in South Asia - a region often characterised by suspicion, imbalance, and historical baggage. The essence of this model lies in maintaining sovereign equality within a framework of deep cooperation. Delhi's restraint, its willingness to listen, and its respect for Bhutan's choices have been as crucial as Thimphu's trust and pragmatic understanding of India's legitimate interests. This equilibrium has created an environment where neither dominance nor defiance defines the bilateral discourse.

The lessons are manifold. First, sustained developmental cooperation rooted in transparency and responsiveness to local priorities generates genuine goodwill - something that money alone cannot buy. India's investment in Bhutan's hydropower, education, and infrastructure sectors reflects this principle, creating long-term interdependence based on mutual gain rather than obligation. Second, security partnerships flourish when they are seen as cooperative, not coercive. The training of Bhutanese armed forces by Indian institutions and the joint vigilance over Himalayan borders exemplify such a model of mutual benefit. Third, disputes must be managed with patience and perspective; the absence of open contention in India-Bhutan ties has preserved political trust even in moments of regional turbulence. Finally, shared culture and spiritual bonds - from Buddhism to linguistic and artistic exchanges - give emotional depth to the relationship, anchoring it beyond the realm of mere diplomacy.

In the decades to come, the India-Bhutan partnership will be tested by new challenges: climate change, transnational migration, technological transformation, and shifting power equations in Asia. Yet, if history is any guide, this relationship will continue to evolve through dialogue, respect, and adaptability. The two nations have already demonstrated that geography need not dictate dependency and that smallness in size can coexist with greatness in dignity.

As Prime Minister Modi concludes his Bhutan visit, the symbolism will be rich - in the prayers offered before sacred relics, in the meetings with Bhutan's monarchs, and in the announcements of new projects. But beneath these gestures lies a deeper truth: that the India-Bhutan bond, carefully cultivated over seven decades, remains one of the most successful experiments in South Asian diplomacy. It thrives not on power politics but on the subtler art of trust - an art increasingly rare in today's fractious world.

In a region where asymmetry often breeds anxiety, Bhutan's steady partnership with India proves that when diplomacy is conducted with humility, patience, and respect, even the smallest state can stand tall beside the largest, and both can rise together. The Bhutan model, in this sense, is not just a story of two nations - it is a quiet lesson for the subcontinent on how to turn geography from a burden into a bridge.

(The writer can be reached at dipakkurmiglpltd@gmail.com.)