Bhutanese King lands in India on a 4-day tour amid tension over Doklam

Three months after the stand-off between Indian and Chinese troops in Doklam, Bhutanese King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, accompanied by Queen Jetsun Pema Wangchuk and Prince Jigme Namgyal Wangchuk, arrived here on Tuesday on a four-day visit. The visit assumes significance as throughout the Doklam crises Bhutan, despite allurements, supported India. The royal couple was received by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj at the airport in New Delhi. "Special gesture for a valued friend. EAM @SushmaSwaraj receives Their Majesties, The King, The Queen and The Gyalsey (Prince) of Bhutan," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted.

"The visit would provide an opportunity to both the sides for reviewing the entire gamut of bilateral cooperation, including plans for befitting celebrations of golden jubilee of establishment of diplomatic relations between our two countries in the year 2018, and to advance the special bilateral ties of friendship and cooperation," a statement issued by the MEA read. "The visit of His Majesty the King of Bhutan is in keeping with the long standing tradition of regular high-level exchanges between the two countries," it added.

Experts here believe that visit of the King at this juncture will help India send a strategic signal to China, which is trying to make inroads into the tiny Himalayan kingdom. India is resisting Beijing's efforts to bypass New Delhi and bilaterally settle border dispute with Bhutan. According to India, the area falls in a tri-junction ie, between Bhutan, India and China, and can be settled only after an agreement between all three parties.