The Kingdom of Bhutan (CRS Report for Congress)
| Release Date |
Revised Sept. 6, 2023 |
| Report Number |
IF10660 |
| Report Type |
In Focus |
| Authors |
Joseph O. Yinusa; Maria A. Blackwood |
| Source Agency |
Congressional Research Service |
| Older Revisions |
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Summary:
The Kingdom of Bhutan is a small, landlocked Himalayan
country situated between India and the People’s Republic of
China (PRC, or China). The mountainous kingdom is about
half the size of Indiana, with an estimated population of
approximately 876,000. Hydropower (accounting for 63%
of the country’s exports by value), agriculture, and forestry
development are the primary drivers of economic growth.
With 60% forest cover and extensive hydropower, Bhutan
is a carbon-negative country. Although Bhutan does not
have diplomatic relations with any permanent members of
the U.N. Security Council, including the United States, the
U.S. State Department describes U.S.-Bhutan relations as
“warm” and “informal.” The U.S. Embassy in New Delhi,
India, conducts consular responsibilities for Bhutan, and
Bhutan maintains a consulate general in New York City.
Geopolitical tensions between China and India along their
Himalayan border have generally increased U.S.
policymakers’ interest in the region. Members of the 118th
Congress have focused interest on Bhutan’s human rights
record and Chinese territorial claims in Bhutan.
The Biden Administration has identified its primary
strategic objective in Bhutan as “the eventual normalization
of relations while reinforcing support for Bhutanese
sovereignty.” The State Department describes Bhutan as
playing an active role in supporting the rules-based
international order, particularly in the Indo-Pacific, despite
being one of the world’s newest democracies. The
Bhutanese government has consistently said that it seeks to
expand U.S.-Bhutan cooperation. Bhutan has participated in
a U.S. Agency for International Development regional
program for South Asia directed at developing power
infrastructure, and has implemented energy- and disasterrelated programs intended to help mitigate some of the
effects of climate change.
