Link to article: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/12/12/israel-and-bhutan-establish-diplomatic-relations
Israel and Bhutan have just announced that they will be mending ties. The idea is to improve relations but also increase cooperation between the two countries. This comes after Bhutan attempts to strengthen country moral instead of GDP, as they have maintained a carbon-negative economy and having a $250 visit fee for any tourists daily. Bhutan´s goal is to proud to maintain independence after fighting back globalization and its reaching out to more countries to have more allies in its pocket to prevent this from happening. As Bhutan rests between the two powerhouses India and China, it is important for them to protect themselves and make sure the country is safe. Israel and Bhutan have been secretly contacting each other for years now, but now they have finally been able to make the deal official.
In the 18th and 19th centuries Bhutan was under the rule of reincarnate successors Ngawang Namgyal. This all changed after British India won the Duar War, which was over key floodplains that were geographic gateways to Bhutan. They concluded with the Treaty of Sinchula which indicated a perpetual ¨friendship¨ between British India and Bhutan. The agreement stated that British India would not interfere with internal administration as long as they were allowed to advise Bhutan on external administration. This would go on for another 100 years until it officially ended in 2007, which made it so that the two states would cooperate with each other based on national interest instead. British India had an indirect force on Bhutan and even though they weren´t technically being colonized, there would be consequences if the rules were not followed.
This idea of one country coercing another country is a common theme throughout world history and understanding international relations. By understanding Bhutan´s past, we can see why they would place emphasis on fighting against globalization. Their goal is to reach out to enough people so that in the case that something like this were to happen again, they would have friends by their side to support them or help them in a possible war scenario. Also by creating more allies, it makes it less of a target for a larger power and could bear more worldwide consequences if a country invades a country that has lots of allies. This is a strategic and smart move to avoid the ¨kill or be killed¨ mentality of international relations and Bhutan is slowly setting themselves up to be on par with the rest of the world.