Since the visit of Jewaharal Nehru's first visit in Bhutan 1958, Bhutan's five plan has been largely financed by India and in the current five year plan, Government of India agreed to provide Four Thousand Five Hundred Crores of Rupees. But with such huge assistance, the small nations like Bhutan are also seeing more and more political pressure into the sovereignty of the
statehood.
Existence of China and India, other small South Asian countries are often seen to be indirectly involved in the Indo-China cold war. There were many speculations that the second parliamentary election was indirectly affected by India as India withdrew its subsidy on LPG in Bhutan. Including the many Indian media both print and broadcast speculated that, the subsidy was withdrawn owing to meeting of the former Prime Minister of Bhutan and Chinese Première in Rio in 2012. With the renewal of 1947 Indo-Bhutan Friendship Treaty in 2007 gave complete control over its foreign policy which was earlier under the guidance of New Delhi where during the period five years of first government established numerous diplomatic ties.
Immediately, upon the change in Indian Government, the Mr. Narenda Modi, India's new Prime Minister first made his foreign trip to Bhutan assuring that India's commitment to continue its support for Bhutan, followed by visit by Indian President in few months and then Bhutanese Prime Minister to participate in the Gurjat Vibrant.
In the past, there are also reports that India is losing its grip on her neighbours to its arch rival China in recent times, quoting Nepal as an example. With the BJP in power, Narenda Modi affirmed that he would first strengthen the close friendship with all its members. As a result, for the first time in Indian history, he invited all Heads of the governments of SAARC Members to his Swearing Ceremony held in New Delhi including Pakistan.
Now, in the recent election in Srilanka, there were many speculations that Indian played a role in ousting the former President Rajapaksa as former President was seen pro-china where Sri Lanka allowed its land to be used by China for various purposes including some defense. However, with the new Government in Sri Lank, just a month old, went ahead with the former government's proposal on the bilateral project between Sri Lank and China which many speculate that would irk the Indian Government.
Both, India and China has also been heavily investing in Maldives, Myanmar and other neighours in wake of their increasing power in the world.
The positive about such steps of these two giant nations are that the small nations like Bhutan, Nepal, Sri Lanka or Maldives are getting assisted in its development and enjoys lots of benefits from both the countries. This may range free trade, commerce, FDIs, education, cultural exchanges and conservation of environment. However, the hind side of such rivalry between these nations are, compromise on the security of all the smaller states, inability to settle borders disputes more easily as well as their interference in the internal matters indirectly through trade and commerce or other economical sanctions such as withdrawal of subsidies provided or bilateral projects as well as political pressure to accept some projects.
It is therefore, would be more appropriate that while maintaining good relations with both these two giant brother, small states must also come together to form sub-regional groups to exchange and strengthen its sovereignty and foster its economic ties across the sub-continent. This is seen as SAARC has been much failed Regional Body as all its major decision remained deadlocked due to Indo-Pakistan relations including the last SAARC Summit held in Nepal where SAARC Regional Transport could be realized as Pakistan rejected the proposal citing its administrative procedure.
statehood.
Existence of China and India, other small South Asian countries are often seen to be indirectly involved in the Indo-China cold war. There were many speculations that the second parliamentary election was indirectly affected by India as India withdrew its subsidy on LPG in Bhutan. Including the many Indian media both print and broadcast speculated that, the subsidy was withdrawn owing to meeting of the former Prime Minister of Bhutan and Chinese Première in Rio in 2012. With the renewal of 1947 Indo-Bhutan Friendship Treaty in 2007 gave complete control over its foreign policy which was earlier under the guidance of New Delhi where during the period five years of first government established numerous diplomatic ties.
Immediately, upon the change in Indian Government, the Mr. Narenda Modi, India's new Prime Minister first made his foreign trip to Bhutan assuring that India's commitment to continue its support for Bhutan, followed by visit by Indian President in few months and then Bhutanese Prime Minister to participate in the Gurjat Vibrant.
In the past, there are also reports that India is losing its grip on her neighbours to its arch rival China in recent times, quoting Nepal as an example. With the BJP in power, Narenda Modi affirmed that he would first strengthen the close friendship with all its members. As a result, for the first time in Indian history, he invited all Heads of the governments of SAARC Members to his Swearing Ceremony held in New Delhi including Pakistan.
Now, in the recent election in Srilanka, there were many speculations that Indian played a role in ousting the former President Rajapaksa as former President was seen pro-china where Sri Lanka allowed its land to be used by China for various purposes including some defense. However, with the new Government in Sri Lank, just a month old, went ahead with the former government's proposal on the bilateral project between Sri Lank and China which many speculate that would irk the Indian Government.
Both, India and China has also been heavily investing in Maldives, Myanmar and other neighours in wake of their increasing power in the world.
The positive about such steps of these two giant nations are that the small nations like Bhutan, Nepal, Sri Lanka or Maldives are getting assisted in its development and enjoys lots of benefits from both the countries. This may range free trade, commerce, FDIs, education, cultural exchanges and conservation of environment. However, the hind side of such rivalry between these nations are, compromise on the security of all the smaller states, inability to settle borders disputes more easily as well as their interference in the internal matters indirectly through trade and commerce or other economical sanctions such as withdrawal of subsidies provided or bilateral projects as well as political pressure to accept some projects.
It is therefore, would be more appropriate that while maintaining good relations with both these two giant brother, small states must also come together to form sub-regional groups to exchange and strengthen its sovereignty and foster its economic ties across the sub-continent. This is seen as SAARC has been much failed Regional Body as all its major decision remained deadlocked due to Indo-Pakistan relations including the last SAARC Summit held in Nepal where SAARC Regional Transport could be realized as Pakistan rejected the proposal citing its administrative procedure.
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