Bhutan's Diplomatic Recognition Policy

Question 1

How many countries does Bhutan officially recognize as of 2025?

Answer 1

54

Question 2

When did Bhutan join UN?

Answer 2

1971

Question 3

What major countries doesn’t Bhutan recognise?

Answer 3

US, UK, France, China

Question 4

How many countries does Bhutan maintain embassies in?

Answer 4

Fewer than 10

Question 5

What is Bhutan’s main foreign policy priority?

Answer 5

Preservation of sovereignty, national identity, cultural heritage, and peaceful coexistence, especially through regional cooperation.

Question 6

Realism

Answer 6

prioritizes security, survival, and strategic autonomy, choosing limited engagement to avoid great power entanglements.

Question 7

Liberalism

Answer 7

challenges liberal assumptions that more diplomatic ties mean more peace; Bhutan prefers selective cooperation (e.g., in the UN or SAARC).

Question 8

Constructivism

Answer 8

diplomacy is shaped by its national identity and Buddhist values

Question 9

Postcolonial IR

Answer 9

resists Western diplomatic norms and power structures, engaging on its own terms, shaped by a history of colonial encroachment in South Asia.

Question 9

Neorealism

Answer 9

alignment with India can be seen as bandwagoning for protection, while avoiding antagonizing China, with whom it has border disputes.

Question 10

What is Bhutan’s relationship with India?

Answer 10

closest ally, providing economic aid, security cooperation

Question 11

How does Bhutan approach international organizations?

Answer 11

active in multilateral bodies (UN, WHO, SAARC), using them to amplify small-state voices without deep bilateral entanglements.

Question 12

What lessons does Bhutan offer for IR theory?

Answer 12

challenges dominant theories that equate recognition, globalization, and diplomacy with power or legitimacy.