Lieutenant General Batoo Tshering, Chief Operations Officer of the Royal Bhutan Army, commenced a six-day visit to India on Saturday. This visit is part of a six-day official tour to India, which aims to enhance bilateral military cooperation and. explore new avenues for defence collaboration between Bhutan and India, according to the Defence Ministry statement.
During his visit, Lt. Gen. Tshering is scheduled to engage in high-level discussions with key Indian officials, including Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi, National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval, Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, and Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh.
According to the statement, General Tshering spent his first day in Gaya upon his arrival, where he visited the Officers Training Academy and several significant Buddhist cultural sites. This visit highlights the deep-rooted cultural and military ties between Bhutan and India. “During the visit, the delegation gained valuable insights into the rigorous training and daily life of Officer Cadets at OTA, Gaya,” Indian Army’s X post said.
A high-level delegation led by Lieutenent General Batoo Tshering, Chief Operations Officer, #COO of the Royal Bhutan Army, visited the Officers Training Academy #OTA Gaya, to strengthen cultural and military ties between the two nations. During the visit, the delegation gained… pic.twitter.com/vdZhKPYG2I
— ADG PI – INDIAN ARMY (@adgpi) February 2, 2025
From February 2nd to 5th, General Tshering will be in New Delhi, where he is scheduled to participate in various key activities. The General is expected to meet with the Chief of the Army Staff and other senior officials. He will also visit several important military institutions, including the National Security Guard (NSG) in Manesar and the Defence Image Processing and Analysis Centre (DIPAC).
The visit comes just two months after Bhutanese King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck’s trip to India, underscoring the close and strategic ties between the two neighbours.
Lt. Gen. Tshering is expected to discuss the situation in the strategic Doklam plateau region with Indian officials. The area gained international attention in 2017 when Indian and Chinese forces were engaged in a tense 73-day standoff after China attempted to extend a road into territory claimed by Bhutan. India supported Bhutan’s claim during the standoff, which raised fears of a broader conflict in the region. In recent years, Bhutan and China have initiated efforts to expedite the resolution of their longstanding border dispute, a development India has closely monitored.
“This visit by Lieutenant General Batoo Tshering paves the way for continued collaboration between the two militaries,” stated the Indian readout. It further emphasized that the visit would deepen the strategic relationship between India and Bhutan, reinforcing their shared commitment to regional security and mutual interests.
Team BharatShakti
