Israel and Bhutan established formal diplomatic relations on December 12, 2020, following decades of cooperation in agriculture and professional training. Bhutan, a Buddhist-majority Himalayan kingdom between India and China, had traditionally maintained diplomatic ties with a relatively small number of countries. Formal relations created opportunities to broaden cooperation in technology, water management, health, and tourism.
Israel had supported Bhutan’s human resource development since 1982, particularly through agricultural training that benefited hundreds of Bhutanese youths. Beginning in 2013, Bhutanese participants joined an 11-month agricultural apprenticeship program run by AgroStudies in cooperation with MASHAV, Israel’s Agency for International Development Cooperation. In 2016, Bhutan’s agriculture and forestry minister, Yeshey Dorji, visited Israel and attended a graduation ceremony for 21 Bhutanese participants.
Efforts to establish diplomatic relations advanced in 2017, when Gilad Cohen, head of the Israeli Foreign Ministry’s Asia-Pacific division, visited Bhutan and met then-Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay. In the years preceding the agreement, Israel hosted Bhutanese delegations in fields including agriculture and cybersecurity, while Israeli diplomats visited the kingdom. These exchanges helped lay the groundwork for formal ties. Cohen also identified dialogue about Bhutan’s voting at the United Nations as an Israeli objective.
On December 12, 2020, Israel’s ambassador to India, Ron Malka, and Bhutan’s ambassador to India, Major General Vetsop Namgyel, exchanged diplomatic notes establishing relations at the Israeli Embassy in New Delhi. Israeli Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi and Bhutanese Foreign Minister Tandi Dorji had agreed on a joint work plan covering water management, agriculture, and health. The joint announcement also identified economic and technological development, agricultural sciences, professional training, cultural exchanges, and tourism as areas for expanded cooperation. Ashkenazi welcomed the agreement as a step toward strengthening Israel’s ties with Asia.
The two countries maintain diplomatic representation through their embassies in New Delhi: Israel’s embassy is accredited to Bhutan, and Bhutan’s embassy is accredited to Israel. On March 21, 2025, Reuven Azar presented his credentials to Bhutan’s king as Israel’s nonresident ambassador to the kingdom.
In October 2026, plans were announced for the first direct flights from Israel to Bhutan. Bhutan’s national airline, Drukair, was scheduled to operate five seasonal flights in February and March 2027, organized by the Israeli tour company Caminos. The approximately seven-hour flights were to use an Airbus A320 configured with about 110 seats, including business class, and arrive at Paro International Airport. Another direct-flight project was being planned for late 2027.
The flights were linked to eight-day tours for groups of up to 16 travelers. Bhutan’s tourism policy emphasizes protecting its culture and environment; the reported Sustainable Development Fee was $100 per person per night. The planned air service would facilitate the tourism exchanges envisioned when the two countries established diplomatic relations.
Sources: Bhutan Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade, “Bilateral Relations”, Royal Government of Bhutan.
“Israel inks deal establishing diplomatic relations with Bhutan”, Times of Israel, (December 12, 2020).
“Joint Press Statement on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between the Kingdom of Bhutan and the State of Israel”, Royal Government of Bhutan, (December 12, 2020).
Larry Luxner, “Kingdom of Bhutan: Israel’s new friend in the Himalayas?”,Times of Israel, (August 10, 2019).
Gilad Cohen, “The road to happiness: How we established ties with Bhutan”,Times of Israel, (December 15, 2020).
“Press Release for POC”, Royal Government of Bhutan, (March 21, 2025).
Ziv Reinstein, “For the first time in history: Direct flights from Israel to the Kingdom of Bhutan”, Jerusalem Post, (October 4, 2026).
Photo: CIA Factbook.