Establishment of diplomatic relations between the Kingdom of Bhutan and the Kingdom of Spain

The Kingdom of Bhutan and the Kingdom of Spain, wishing to strengthen and develop mutually beneficial relations between their countries and peoples have established formal diplomatic relations with effect from 11th February 2011.

The Notes Verbales and the Joint Communiqué on the establishment of diplomatic relations was signed between H.E. Mr. Lhatu Wangchuk, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Bhutan to the United Nations in New York, on behalf of the Royal Government of Bhutan, and H.E. Mr. Juan Pablo de Laiglesia, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Spain to the United Nations in New York, on behalf of the Government of Spain, on 11th February 2011, at the Permanent Mission of Bhutan in New York.

Following the signing ceremony, the two Ambassadors exchanged views on areas of mutual cooperation and expressed the desire of their governments to cooperate closely in areas of mutual benefit. With the establishment of diplomatic relations, the two Ambassadors also expressed the desire to enhance bilateral cooperation and to further deepen the present level of cooperation between the two countries at the UN and at other multilateral forums.

Bhutan’s Ambassador to Belgium will be accredited to Madrid and the Spanish Ambassador in India will be concurrently accredited to Bhutan.

Despite the absence of diplomatic relations in the past, Bhutan and Spain have had good informal ties of friendship. For instance, people-to-people contact has been actively promoted through the Bhutan Society of Spain in Barcelona that was established in 1999. Bhutan has also held an exhibition on Bhutanese culture in Valencia in 1999. From 2004 to 2007, Bhutan also had an Honorary Consul in Madrid. Last October, the Hon’ble Prime Minister also visited Spain during which time he received an audience with His Majesty King Juan Carlos I of Spain and was the guest speaker to speak on “Happiness in difficult times”.

Spain has been a constitutional monarchy since 1978 and a member of the European Union. The tourism industry of Spain is known to have become the second biggest in the world. Spain is also regarded as a world leader in solar power.

With the establishment of diplomatic relations with Spain, Bhutan now has diplomatic relations with 25 countries and the European Union.

11th February 2010