After postponing his visit to Bhutan due to bad weather on Thursday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday, March 22, 2024, arrived in Paro, Bhutan for a 24-hour State visit. Mr. Modi was accorded a warm reception including the Guard of Honour. Mr. Modi will receive Bhutan’s highest civilian award, the Order of the Druk Gyalpo.
This is PM Modi’s first visit since the award was announced in 2021, which will be presented Bhutan’s King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, in appreciation for his efforts towards strengthening India-Bhutan ties, and in particular India’s provision of the first round of 500,000 doses of Covid-19 vaccines in 2021.
The Prime Minister’s visit, that follows just a week after Bhutan PM Tshering Tobgay’s visit to Delhi is unusual, as by convention Prime Ministers forego bilateral visits after election dates have been scheduled. However, sources said, the gesture was meant to denote India’s commitment to Bhutan in particular and to the government’s “neighbourhood first” policy.
