A high-level delegation from Mongolia’s Command and Staff College, led by Brigadier General Ontsgoibayar Lkhamjii, held discussions with Major General Ajeet Gahlot, Assistant Chief of Integrated Defence Staff (Training & Doctrine), at India’s Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff (HQ IDS) in New Delhi. The primary aim of this meeting was to explore ways to enhance military cooperation and strengthen defense ties between the two nations.
Consisting of 18 members, the Mongolian delegation is on a six-day official visit to India, which started on May 25 and will conclude on May 31. During their stay, they are scheduled to visit several key military and defense establishments, including Bharat Electronics Limited and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. The focus of these visits is to explore potential collaborations in training, technology, and defense production, thus building on the outcomes of the 2024 India-Mongolia Joint Working Group meeting that emphasized defense capability building and joint training initiatives.
The meeting between Brigadier General Ontsgoibayar and Major General Gahlot included ceremonial exchanges of mementos, symbolizing the mutual respect and goodwill between Mongolia and India. This formal session was attended by senior military officers from both nations and underscored their shared vision for sustainable defense cooperation and regional security.
The relationship between India and Mongolia dates back to 1955, with India being the first non-Eastern Bloc nation to establish diplomatic relations with Mongolia. This partnership escalated to a strategic level during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Ulaanbaatar in 2015. Moreover, historical connections run deep, with cultural ties and ancestral links, such as the Mughal lineage in India that can be traced back to Mongolian roots.
India continues to play an active role in supporting Mongolia across various sectors, including education, information technology, and agriculture. Additionally, Mongolia has actively endorsed India’s aspiration for a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council. This military engagement reflects the strengthening of bilateral ties at a time when Mongolia is seeking to navigate its relationships with its more powerful neighbors, China and Russia, while fostering collaborations with trusted partners like India.
The visit is anticipated to further solidify mutual trust and defense cooperation, aligning the strategic interests of both nations, particularly in light of the evolving security dynamics in the Indo-Pacific region.
