Tshering Tobgay, the prime minister of Bhutan, embarked on a significant five-day visit to India. It is his first overseas trip since taking office in January. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Tobgay are expected to have an extensive range of discussions to strengthen the long-lasting relations between India and Bhutan.
When Tobgay arrived in New Delhi, Union Minister Ashwini Kumar Choubey greeted him warmly, demonstrating the friendship and solidarity between the two nations.
It coincides with the Union Cabinet’s acceptance of important accords, such as an agreement allowing cooperation in food safety between Bhutan and India’s FSSAI and a Memorandum of Understanding on energy efficiency cooperation. Significant diplomatic developments regarding Bhutan’s boundary issue with China also occurred during Tobgay’s visit.
A three-step roadmap agreed upon in 2021 is the basis for recent talks between China and Bhutan to speed up the resolution process. Given the 2017 standoff between Indian and Chinese forces in the Doklam region, this problem is strategically significant for India.
The ongoing negotiations highlight the fragile geopolitical balance in the area and India and Bhutan’s joint interests in maintaining stability and security in the region.
