The World According To Bhutan

The map above shows the 57 countries Bhutan has formal diplomatic relations with. Most notable is the absence of the 5 permanent members of the UN Security Council (US, Russia, China, UK & France).

Here’s the full list:

So what’s going on?

Geographic and Strategic Position

Landlocked between two major powers, India and China, Bhutan has always had to tread carefully to maintain its sovereignty.
It’s located in the Himalayas, which makes access difficult and has historically isolated it from global politics.
Because of this, Bhutan developed a cautious, “small-state survival strategy”: avoid entanglement in global rivalries, rely on one powerful friend (India), and keep outsiders at arm’s length.

Since India’s independence, Bhutan has had very close ties with India, formalized in the 1949 Treaty or Perpetual Peace and Friendship (revised in 2007).
India provides economic aid, military training, and infrastructure support; in return, Bhutan historically consulted India on foreign affairs.
Although the 2007 treaty revision gave Bhutan more autonomy, India still plays a dominant role in Bhutan’s economy and diplomacy.
Bhutan has no formal diplomatic relations with China, largely because of India’s sensitivities and the ongoing China–Bhutan border dispute.

Bhutan intentionally keeps a small diplomatic network.
- It has formal diplomatic relations with only 57 countries (mostly in Asia and Europe).
- It is not a member of the United Nations until 1971, decades after independence.
It does not have relations with any of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council.
Bhutan prefers to engage multilaterally (like in the UN or SAARC) rather than through large bilateral relationships that might risk political pressure.

Bhutan’s political decisions are guided by its philosophy of Gross National Happiness (GNH), which emphasizes sustainable development, cultural preservation, and environmental protection over pure economic or geopolitical gain.
This translates into a “quality over quantity” approach to diplomacy: Bhutan engages only where it sees long-term benefit consistent with its values and independence.

The monarchy (and now the constitutional government) has followed a slow, controlled path to modernization, including in foreign relations.
The country worries about cultural erosion, dependency, and external influence, so it limits tourism, foreign media, and diplomatic expansion.

In summary:

Bhutan’s “odd” foreign relations aren’t random, they’re carefully designed for survival and stability:

“Be friends with everyone, but get too close to no one (except India).”

This approach has helped Bhutan avoid colonization, maintain its culture, and remain peaceful, even while surrounded by much larger powers.

Have you ever been to the country? What did you think?