Monaco and Bhutan forge diplomatic ties at UN
By Zak Jackson, MonacoViews Editorial
Monaco and Bhutan formally established diplomatic relations on 8 June, with both nations' UN representatives signing the agreement in New York.
Signed at the United Nations headquarters in New York on Monday 8 June, the agreement between Monaco and Bhutan marks the formal opening of diplomatic relations between the two states. The accord was concluded by Monaco's Permanent Representative to the UN, Isabelle Picco, and Bhutan's Permanent Representative, Tenzin Rondel Wangchuk.
For Monaco, the establishment of new bilateral ties is a recurring feature of its active diplomatic programme, conducted largely through its permanent mission in New York. The Principality currently maintains diplomatic relations with the vast majority of UN member states, and each new agreement broadens the legal and institutional framework for potential cooperation on matters ranging from trade to environmental policy.
Bhutan, a small Himalayan kingdom with a population of roughly 800,000, is perhaps best known internationally for its Gross National Happiness index and its strict approach to tourism. The two nations share a certain symmetry as small states with outsized reputations, and the formalisation of relations opens the door to future engagement at the multilateral level.