India–Bhutan Strategic Partnership in the Post–Cold War Era: Security, Diplomacy and Regional Stability

Abstract

India–Bhutan relations constitute one of South Asia’s most enduring and strategically significant partnerships, characterized by deep historical trust and evolving geopolitical relevance. In the post–Cold War era, this relationship has transformed from a traditionally protective arrangement into a mature and reciprocal strategic partnership founded on sovereign equality, mutual security cooperation, developmental collaboration and shared concerns for regional stability. This study examines three interconnected pillars shaping the contemporary India–Bhutan partnership: security cooperation and border stability, diplomatic coordination through institutional frameworks and regional stability fostered through economic interdependence, particularly in the areas of hydropower development, connectivity and cross-border integration. Adopting a qualitative, document-based research methodology, the paper traces the significance of the 2007 India–Bhutan Friendship Treaty, which institutionalized mutual security assurances and cooperation on “national interests” while enabling Bhutan greater diplomatic autonomy in international affairs. The research further evaluates the strategic importance of the 2017 Doklam standoff as a critical stress test for Bhutan’s territorial security and India’s Himalayan deterrence posture, highlighting the strategic convergence between the two countries. Moreover, the paper argues that recent connectivity initiatives, energy cooperation and high-level political engagements have broadened the scope of the partnership beyond traditional security concerns toward a comprehensive model of regional stability. However, challenges persist, including Bhutan’s growing debt burden linked to hydropower projects, its delicate diplomatic balancing with China and the need to diversify economic cooperation beyond the energy sector. Overall, the study concludes that the India–Bhutan strategic partnership continues to play a stabilizing role in the eastern Himalayas, provided both countries effectively manage emerging geopolitical and economic challenges in a rapidly changing regional order.