On 7 February this year, Bhutan's new king, Oxford-educated Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, began a six-day visit to India, marking his debut on the world stage two months after his earlier-than-expected ascension to the country's throne. The following day, the 27-year-old king signed a revised bilateral treaty with India that gave Bhutan significantly greater freedoms in pursuing its foreign and defence policies, areas tightly controlled by New Delhi for nearly six decades in accordance with the 1949 India-Bhutan Friendship Treaty. Not only has the signing signalled the arrival of Bhutan's upcoming democracy, with the stage now set for a realignment of relations with its 'closest friend', India; it has also opened possibilities of significant, if not drastic, changes in Thimphu's multilateral diplomacy in the neighbourhood.
Tentative redefining of the bilateral relationship began almost immediately. Following the signing of the new treaty with Indian Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee, King Namgyel Wangchuck stated: "From a guiding role upon Bhutan's first step to modernisation, we now stand as close friends and equal partners in the global arena." From such a sentiment, it seems clear that Thimphu is hoping now to deal with India on a level footing, rather than to continue to look up to it as a 'guide'. But even as the two countries talk about a further consolidation of their friendship, given Thimphu's newfound autonomy in foreign policy and military purchases, observers will have to wait to see the full impact of the agreement.
The India-Bhutan Friendship Treaty was signed in Darjeeling on 8 August 1949. One of its most central tenants, Article 2, defined the following circuitous relationship: "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." While over the decades the hold of this clause was progressively weakened as Bhutan stepped up its international diplomacy, it has nevertheless been a canker and a source of discomfort for Thimphu's nationalists.
This year's revised agreement has already come into force, with New Delhi and Thimphu exchanging the treaty's so-called Instruments of Ratification in the Bhutani capital on 3 March. Apart from the change in its relationship with India, the new treaty will also mean significantly different – and potentially, more vibrant – relationships between Bhutan and its other neighbours, particularly China, Bangladesh and Nepal. All of these will also have a natural bearing on India's security and diplomacy concerns – which is all the more reason why New Delhi will no longer be able to take its small northern neighbour for granted.