Sindhu Jha
Mongolia is set to play a significant role in India’s foreign policy in the future. Experts are of the opinion that the Modi Government has picked up the thread, which the previous governments failed to do.
During PM Modi’s visit to Mongolia seven years ago, the two countries declared a strategic partnership. Since then, bilateral relations have grown at a healthy pace.
Recently, a multinational peacekeeping exercise ‘Ex Khaan Quest 2022’, featuring participation from military contingents from 16 countries was held in Mongolia. The Indian Army was represented in the exercise by a contingent from the Ladakh Scouts. The 14-day exercise was aimed at enhancing interoperability, building military-to-military relations, developing peace support operations and military readiness among the participating nations.
The exercise enhanced the level of defence co-operation between the Indian Army and participating countries, especially with the Mongolian armed forces. India and Mongolia also cooperate in the defence sector in multiple ways. The India-Mongolia Joint Working Group for Defence Cooperation meets annually.
A joint India-Mongolia exercise, named ‘Nomadic Elephant’, is held every year. India is a regular participant in the multilateral exercise ‘Khan Quest’ and contributes significantly to the training of Mongolian officers. This is considered as a milestone moment of bilateral relations between the two countries due to the China factor. The two countries also have ‘India-Mongolia Joint Committee on Cooperation (IMJCC)’, which is headed by Minister of State for External Affairs on the Indian side and Minister of Education and Science from Mongolia. The fourth meeting of IMJCC was held at New Delhi in March 2013.
As far as the diplomatic relations between India and Mongolia are concerned, these were established on December 24, 1955. India was the first country, outside the Socialist bloc, to establish diplomatic relations with Mongolia. India had also supported Mongolia in getting the UN and NAM memberships.
