THE HIMALAYAN TRIANGLE: WHY INDIA KEEPS BHUTAN SAFE FROM CHINA
Geopolitics|April 2024
India, given its special relationship with Bhutan, has been very wary about the possibility of the establishment of diplomatic relations and the signing of a boundary agreement between Bhutan and China, writes SIMRAN SODHI
SIMRAN SODHI
THE HIMALAYAN TRIANGLE: WHY INDIA KEEPS BHUTAN SAFE FROM CHINA

The historic relationship between India and Bhutan is said to have been given a huge boost with the two-day visit ( March 22-23) of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Bhutan.

Incidentally, this is Indian Prime Minister Modi’s third visit to Bhutan since 2014, the year assumed office. Bhutan was his first overseas destination in 2014 and also among his early visits after being re-elected in 2019. This is a very clear reflection of the importance and the priority that Modi attaches to India-Bhutan relations.

Modi’s latest visit to Bhutan followed soon after the new Prime Minister of Bhutan Dasho Tshering Tobgay’s first foreign trip to New Delhi earlier in the month. , the Prime Minister of Bhutan, to India. During his visit, Modi was conferred with 'Order of the Druk Gyalpo' Bhutan's highest civilian honour. He is the first foreign dignitary and the fourth person to receive this award. As per ranking and precedence established, the Order of the Druk Gyalpo was instituted as the decoration for lifetime achievement and is the pinnacle of the honour system in Bhutan, taking precedence over all orders, decorations and medals. Incidentally, the conferment of the award Order of Druk Gyalpo was announced by His Majesty the King of Bhutan in December 2021 in recognition of the Prime Minister's contributions to strengthening India-Bhutan friendship.

This story is from the April 2024 edition of Geopolitics.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the April 2024 edition of Geopolitics.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM GEOPOLITICSView All
TIME FOR A ROBUST BMD SHIELD
Geopolitics

TIME FOR A ROBUST BMD SHIELD

With nuclear-armed Pakistan and China in the neighbourhood, India must prepare ballistic missile defences at the earliest for protecting its densely populated cities

time-read
7 mins  |
June 2024
URGENT NEED FOR SMART AND LETHAL WEAPONS
Geopolitics

URGENT NEED FOR SMART AND LETHAL WEAPONS

India must tread the path towards the development of a whole gamut of next-generation smart and lethal weapons for countering a two-front threat scenario, writes AMARTYA SINHA

time-read
10 mins  |
June 2024
MOBILITY SOLUTIONS FOR THE INDIAN ARMY
Geopolitics

MOBILITY SOLUTIONS FOR THE INDIAN ARMY

While the Indian Army has a significantly large fleet of trucks and utility vehicles, there is a need to further augment the capabilities by adding latest platforms with better fuel-efficiency, faster speeds, larger wheelbases and enhanced axle-load bearing capacities, argues AMARTYA SINHA

time-read
10+ mins  |
June 2024
C-295 CREATING A MANUFACTURING BLUEPRINT FOR INDIA
Geopolitics

C-295 CREATING A MANUFACTURING BLUEPRINT FOR INDIA

With the right momentum, a realistic roadmap and enabling policy framework, a story is being scripted to make India a hub for global aircraft manufacturing. The potential is enormous. An in-depth report.

time-read
8 mins  |
June 2024
ENHANCING NAVAL AVIATION CAPABILITIES
Geopolitics

ENHANCING NAVAL AVIATION CAPABILITIES

A robust Indian naval air arm will prove to be the biggest sea-based conventional deterrence, both for the tactical as well and strategic level battlefields.

time-read
10 mins  |
June 2024
HAS THE WORLD FORGOTTEN THE PLIGHT OF THE AFGHAN WOMEN?
Geopolitics

HAS THE WORLD FORGOTTEN THE PLIGHT OF THE AFGHAN WOMEN?

With the Taliban and command in Afghanistan, serious questions are being raised about the status of women in that country. GAYATRI SINGH dissects the situation on the ground.

time-read
6 mins  |
June 2024
HOW TANKS ARE EVOLVING TO AVOID OBSOLESCENCE
Geopolitics

HOW TANKS ARE EVOLVING TO AVOID OBSOLESCENCE

Is the dominance of tanks in modern wars coming to an end? This question is increasingly attracting attention of the military experts as the ongoing war in Ukraine and the second Nagorno-Karabakh War between Armenia and Azerbaijan not long before have witnessed the staggering numbers of tanks being destroyed and outgunned, particularly by military drones.

time-read
5 mins  |
June 2024
MISSION GAGANYAAN AFTER LOK SABHA POLLS
Geopolitics

MISSION GAGANYAAN AFTER LOK SABHA POLLS

The Indian human spaceflight programme will be Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s biggest gift to the Indian scientific community.

time-read
10+ mins  |
June 2024
TIME TO GO FOR SIXTH-GENERATION AIRCRAFT
Geopolitics

TIME TO GO FOR SIXTH-GENERATION AIRCRAFT

With China racing ahead in 6th-Gen Fighter Aircraft Programme, India cannot afford to be left behind. AIR MARSHAL ANIL CHOPRA (RETD) explains

time-read
10+ mins  |
June 2024
Unending War In Ukraine
Geopolitics

Unending War In Ukraine

Is Russia's War in Ukraine following a script or it is lost in direction? RAVI SRIVASTAVA attempts to answer

time-read
10 mins  |
May 2024