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The attainment of
external goals are the essence of the foreign policy of any nation.
Like any nation, the ultimate aim of Bhutanese foreign policy is
the attainment of its national interests. The goal of current
Bhutanese foreign policy centres around four major objectives, viz.,
1. search for
national security, preservation of sovereignty and
territorial integrity;
2. economic
development;
3.
preservation of culture; and
4.
furtherance of Bhutan-India relationship;
His Majesty King
Jigme Jigme Singye Wangchuck outlined the basic framework of
Bhutanese foreign policy in May, 1983 thus, ‘ Our aim continues
to be threefold; Firstly, we are committed politically to a strong
and loyal sense of nationhood to ensuring the peace and security of
our citizens and the sovereign territorial integrity of our land.
Secondly, to achieve economic self-reliance and thirdly to preserve
the ancient religious and cultural heritage that has for so many
centuries strengthened and enriched our lives’.
Since late sixties,
new political and economic developments in Bhutan have brought
changes in its foreign policy goals. Following factors have
influenced the growth of Bhutanese foreign policy and its
formulations. First, the realisation of its geo-strategic
importance between two Asian giant nations -China and India, has
provided profound and continual impact on its foreign policy.
Secondly, Bhutan’s treaty relations with India, heavy dependence on
India economic aid and its land-locked status hindered the growth
of independent diplomacy. Thirdly, absence of political parties and
non-subscription to any of the large ideologies that determined the
course of world politics until the eighties had direct bearing on
the growth of country’s relatively stable but limited external
relations. It never had ‘equi-proximity’ or ‘equi-distance’ foreign
policy towards its giant neighbours. There was set foreign policy
agenda in any given period of time. Fourthly, lack of educated and
professional manpower, financial resources and traditional mindset
of Bhutanese society also influenced the conduct of foreign policy
at very minimal. As a traditional society, country’s needs were also
very minimal in the past. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs was
created only in 1972, before that it was a part of Ministry of
Development.
Until mid
seventies, Bhutanese foreign policy was largely Indo-centric and
inward looking. The growth of external relations can be grouped
into four major heads - relationship with India, multilateral,
regional and international bilateral relationships.
Relationship
with India: Bhutan signed a political
Treaty with independent India in 1949, much before it stepped out of
its self-imposed isolation in early sixties. According to Article 2 of the
Indo-Bhutan
Treaty, 1949, at least theoretically, Bhutan is required to
consult India in the conduct of its external relations. The formal
diplomatic relations between Bhutan and India at Ambassadorial
level was established only on 8 August 1978. India has been the
major foreign aid donor to all five year economic development plans
of Bhutan. It has financed all major hydro-projects in Bhutan. It
finances the entire military budget of Bhutan. It is the largest
foreign trade partner of Bhutan. Bhutan has always supported India
in the UN and tows Indian line in the SAARC and other international
forums. Indo-Bhutan relations is separately dealt in this
website . Please click on
India-Bhutan
Bhutan is brought
under Indian security umbrella. India is responsible for Bhutanese
security. Indian Military Training Team (IMTRAT) is based in Bhutan
to provide training to Bhutanese security forces.
Multilateral
diplomacy: During late seventies and
early eighties, there has been a major structural shift in its
foreign policy. It opted for multilateralism and even international
bilateralism in its subsequent stages of economic development in
the late seventies and early eighties.
Bhutan received
substantial economic aid through multilateral channels. Various UN
agencies have contributed substantially to the core sector of
socio-economy of the country such as education, agriculture,
live-stock development, forestry, environment, industry, health,
children, training of bureaucracy, technical co-operation etc.
Bhutan joined the
Colombo Plan in 1963 and the Universal Postal Union in 1969. It was
admitted to the United Nations in 1971. Bhutan became the member
of. UNCTAD in 1971, ESCAP in 1972, NAM in 1973, IFAD, IMF, IBRD,
IDA and FAO in 1981, WHO, UNESCO and ADB in 1982, UNIDO in 1983,
ITU in 1988, ICAO in 1989, ECOSOC in 1992. Bhutan and the United
Nations Development Programme (UNDP) signed general agreement in
1973. The UNDP opened its office in Thimphu in 1979. Bhutan is
now a member of more than 150 international organisations.
International
bilateralism : The most important
factor of Bhutanese foreign policy has been its demonstrated apathy
to the establishment of formal diplomatic relationship with any of
the permanent members of UN Security Council. Surprisingly, it does
not have formal diplomatic relationship with its next door mighty
neighbour China. There has never been any exchange of state visits
between the two neighbours.
Bhutan chose to
establish international bilateral diplomatic relationship with the
‘non-organic powers’, the industrialised nations and members of the
OECD, like the Scandinavian countries, Japan, South Korea etc.
Japan, Netherlands, Denmark, Norway, Austria, Finland, Canada,
Sweden and Australia are the prominent aid donors.
It established
formal diplomatic relations with Switzerland, Denmark, Sweden, EEC,
Norway and Netherlands in 1985; Kuwait, Japan and Finland in 1986;
South Korea in 1987, Austria in 1989, Thailand in 1991 Bahrain in
1992. Consular relations were also established with Hongkong and
Singapore in 1982 and Macaw in 1985.
Regional
diplomacy : Bhutan’s established
resident diplomatic relationship with Bangladesh in 1980. In no
time, Dhaka became the largest export market for Bhutanese goods
in terms of hard currency. It established diplomatic relations
with Nepal in 1983. It established non-resident diplomatic
relations with Maldives in 1984, Sri Lanka, 1987 and Pakistan in
1990. Bhutan joined the SAARC in 1983.
Bhutanese
residential diplomatic missions are located in New Delhi, UN
Headquarters, New York, UN Offices, Geneva, Kuwait city, Bangkok and
Dhaka. India and Bangladesh have their embassies in Thimphu. The
Austrian Coordination Bureau, Canadian Office, DANIDA, GTZ,
HELVETAS, SNV- Netherlands, UNDP, FAO, WFP and WHO maintain their
resident representatives in Thimphu. Denmark closed down its Liaison
Office in March 2002.
ADDENDUM
Bhutan established formal diplomatic ties with Australia on
September 14, 2002 and Singapore on September 20, 2002.
Canada and Bhutan established diplomatic relations on June 25, 2003.
Canadian and Bhutanese representatives to the United
Nations exchanged letters in a final step to establish relations in
New York on
June
25, 2003.
Canada will conduct its relations on a non-resident
basis through the Canadian High Commission in New Delhi.
Bhutan will cross-accredit its Permanent Representative to the
United Nations in New York as a non-resident ambassador to Canada.
AFP/Yahoo
Bhutan's formal diplomatic relations have
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