PM Modi, Bhutan King meeting: India, Bhutan in close touch regarding security issues says FS Vinay Kwatra

The meeting between the Bhutanese King Jigme Wangchuck and Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to focus on the progress made on the border talks between Bhutan and China.

New Delhi: The Indian government closely follows all developments which have a bearing on our national interest and would take all necessary measures as necessary, Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra told reporters during a briefing following the meeting between Bhutanese King Jigme Wangchuck and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday. Asked about the China-Bhutan three-step road map agreement, Kwarta said that India and Bhutan remain in close touch relating to our shared interests including security issues.

"In the meeting between the PM and the King of Bhutan, it was agreed that India would step up its support for Bhutan's upcoming 13th five-year plan. India will work to extend an additional standby credit facility. We will work to shape long-term sustainable arrangements for the export of agricultural commodities from Bhutan. We will also work to develop long-term bilateral arrangements for assured supply of critical commodities like petroleum, and coal," added Kwatra.

Asked about the Bhutan King's comment on the Doklam issue and if it was discussed today between the Bhutanese king and PM Modi, he said "Government of India very closely follows all developments which have a bearing on our national interest and we would take all necessary measures to safeguard this as necessary. India and Bhutan remain in close touch relating to our shared national interest including security issues".

This comes as China and Bhutan in October 2021 signed an agreement on a three-Step Roadmap For Expediting the Bhutan-China Boundary Negotiations. During that time, Bhutan’s Foreign Ministry said the MoU on the Three-Step Roadmap would provide a fresh impetus to the Boundary Talks between the two countries.

He also said that besides this exemplary and unique relationship that India and Bhutan have, there is also the time-tested framework of security cooperation and as part of that both countries maintain a long-standing tradition of very close consultations on matters relating to their mutual interests and security also.

Earlier in the day the Bhutanese King Jigme Wangchuck who is on a three-day official visit to New Delhi has been received by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday. The two leaders will review the bilateral cooperation between the two countries and enhance cooperation in different sectors.

The King's visit comes at a very crucial time especially when China-India ties are witnessing a new low as the latter is making all possible attempts to lay its claims on Arunachal Pradesh.

Recently, China has renamed 11 places in Arunachal Pradesh. India has strongly reacted and said that "Arunachal Pradesh is, has been, and will always be an integral and inalienable part of India. Attempts to assign invented names will not alter this reality."

Therefore, Tuesday's meeting between the king and PM Modi will see a discussion on Chinese growing belligerence. The talk is expected to focus on the progress made on the border talks between Bhutan and China. This is the first such high-level meeting between PM Modi and the Bhutanese King since the boundary talks between China and Bhutan made progress.

It is pertinent to note that China and Bhutan in October 2021 signed an agreement on a three-Step Roadmap For Expediting the Bhutan-China Boundary negotiations. During that time, Bhutan’s Foreign Ministry said that the MoU on the Three-Step Roadmap would provide a fresh impetus to the boundary talks between the two countries.

The talk was mainly focussed on two valleys to Bhutan’s north and the Doklam area to the west of Bhutan, close to the trijunction with India, which was the area of conflict between Indian and Chinese forces in 2017.

Therefore, given the bilateral chill between India and China, any swap agreement between Bhutan and China can be of concern for India as it might threaten the security at the Trijunction.