Monday, February 17th, 2025

Know why Vikram Misri is going on a visit to Bhutan first after becoming the Foreign Secretary

New Delhi: Vikram Misri, who recently became India’s new Foreign Secretary, will visit Bhutan on a two-day visit. This will be Misri’s first foreign visit after assuming office. he/she will visit Bhutan on Friday. During this visit, bilateral relations between India and Bhutan will be reviewed and issues of mutual interest will be discussed. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said that Misri will meet Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay, Foreign Minister DN Dhungyel and Foreign Secretary Pema Choden in Bhutan’s capital Thimpu. Apart from this, he/she will also meet Bhutan King Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuk.

First visit after becoming Foreign Secretary
The Ministry of External Affairs said, ‘Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri will be on an official visit to Bhutan from July 19-20, which will be his/her first foreign visit after assuming charge as Foreign Secretary.’ The Ministry of External Affairs further said, ‘During this visit, Foreign Secretary Misri will call on his/her Majesty the King of Bhutan. he/she will meet the Prime Minister, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, and will also meet the Foreign Secretary and other senior officials of the Royal Government of Bhutan.’

India’s priority is Neighbourhood First
The Foreign Ministry said that the visit of the Foreign Secretary reflects the “highest priority” accorded by the Government of India to the “Neighbourhood First” policy. Misri will also meet Bhutan King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck. Officials privy to the visit said that the talks between Misri and the Bhutanese Foreign Secretary will comprehensively review bilateral relations, including issues related to mutual security interests. The ministry said, “Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri will be on an official visit to Bhutan on July 19-20. This will be his/her first foreign visit after assuming charge as Foreign Secretary.”

The two foreign secretaries will also co-chair the India-Bhutan Development Cooperation Dialogue, the Ministry of External Affairs said. “This visit is in keeping with the tradition of regular high-level interactions between India and Bhutan and demonstrates the highest priority accorded by the Government of India to its ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy,” a statement said.

Bhutan’s Prime Minister had come to PM Modi’s swearing-in ceremony last month
Last month, the Bhutanese Prime Minister attended the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Union Council of Ministers in New Delhi. Misri’s visit to Thimpu comes at a time when China and Bhutan are focusing on an early resolution of their border dispute, which could have an impact on India’s security interests. Bhutan’s then Foreign Minister Tandi Dorji had held talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Beijing about 10 months ago.

China will be upset!
In a statement issued by China regarding this conversation, it was said that Bhutan firmly adheres to the One-China principle and is ready to work with China for an early resolution of the border issue. India is keeping an eye on the ongoing talks on the border dispute between Bhutan and China as it may have an impact on New Delhi’s security interests, especially on Doklam. In August last year, China and Bhutan signed a three-phase roadmap to resolve their border dispute. The signing of this agreement comes four years after the 73-day standoff between the Indian and Chinese armies at the Doklam tri-junction. The standoff began when China tried to extend the road in the area which Bhutan claims as its own. The standoff between the Indian and Chinese armies on the Doklam plateau in 2017 had led to fears of a major conflict between the two neighbors. Bhutan had said that this area belongs to it and India supports Bhutan’s claim.

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