Mongolian President India Visit: Powerful Strategic Partnership Deepens in October

The upcoming Mongolian President’s visit to India, scheduled for October 2025, marks a significant milestone in the evolving diplomatic and strategic relationship between New Delhi and Ulaanbaatar. As India continues to strengthen its outreach in the extended neighbourhood, this high-level engagement with Mongolian President Ukhnaagiin Khürelsükh underscores the growing importance both nations place on their bilateral partnership amid changing geopolitical dynamics in Asia.

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Historical Context of India-Mongolia Relations

India and Mongolia established diplomatic relations in 1955, and over the past seven decades, the relationship has evolved from cultural exchanges to comprehensive strategic cooperation. The Mongolian President’s visit to India comes at a crucial juncture as both countries prepare to celebrate the 70th anniversary of their diplomatic ties. This milestone provides an opportune moment to reflect on shared democratic values, Buddhist heritage, and mutual commitment to multilateralism that form the foundation of bilateral relations.

The relationship received significant impetus during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s landmark visit to Mongolia in 2015, which elevated ties to a Strategic Partnership level. This was the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Mongolia in over three decades and transformed the bilateral engagement framework. Since then, high-level exchanges have become more frequent, with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s 2022 visit to Ulaanbaatar further cementing defence cooperation between the two nations.

Strategic Significance of the Presidential Visit

The Mongolian President’s visit in October holds substantial strategic importance for multiple reasons. Mongolia occupies a unique geopolitical position, sandwiched between Russia and China, and has pursued a “third neighbour” policy to diversify its international partnerships. India represents a crucial partner in this strategy, offering Mongolia diplomatic space and development cooperation without the geopolitical pressures associated with its immediate neighbours.

For India, strengthening ties with Mongolia aligns with its broader Indo-Pacific strategy and extended neighbourhood policy. As China’s assertiveness in the region continues to grow, India’s partnership with Mongolia provides New Delhi with a valuable foothold in Central and Northeast Asia. The relationship serves India’s strategic interests by creating diplomatic leverage and expanding its influence beyond traditional South Asian boundaries.

Recent consultative meetings between senior officials from both countries in March 2025 laid the groundwork for this presidential visit. During these discussions, Secretary (East) Jaideep Mazumdar from India and State Secretary Munkhtushig Lkhanaajav from Mongolia reviewed bilateral cooperation across various sectors and planned high-level engagements to commemorate the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations.

Defence Cooperation Takes Centre Stage

Defence collaboration has emerged as a cornerstone of the India-Mongolia partnership, and the Mongolian President’s visit is expected to significantly advance this dimension. The annual joint military exercise “Nomadic Elephant” exemplifies the depth of defence ties. The 17th edition of this exercise was conducted from May 31 to June 13, 2025, in Ulaanbaatar, focusing on counter-terrorism operations, peacekeeping, and tactical drills to enhance interoperability between the two armed forces.

Beyond bilateral exercises, both nations participate in multinational peacekeeping initiatives. The “Khaan Quest” exercise, hosted by Mongolia from June 14 to June 28, 2025, saw significant Indian participation with a 40-member contingent primarily from the Kumaon Regiment. These joint exercises strengthen military-to-military cooperation and demonstrate India’s commitment to the regional security architecture.

During Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s 2022 visit to Mongolia, India announced the gifting of two Advanced Light Helicopters (ALH) to the Mongolian Armed Forces, showcasing defence industrial cooperation. The upcoming visit of the Mongolian President to India is anticipated to explore further opportunities for defence equipment supply, training programs, and capacity building initiatives that would benefit Mongolia’s modernisation efforts.

The 10th Director General Level Border Coordination Conference held in New Delhi in February 2025 further demonstrated the institutional depth of bilateral defence engagement. These regular consultations ensure effective coordination on border management and security cooperation.

Economic and Development Partnership

Economic cooperation forms another critical pillar that the Mongolian President’s visit to India will likely strengthen. India has extended significant development assistance to Mongolia through soft loans and capacity-building programs. One of the most ambitious collaborative projects is the oil refinery being established in Mongolia with Indian technical and financial support.

According to Mongolia’s ambassador to India, Dambajav Ganbold, this refinery is expected to become operational by 2026 with a capacity of 1.5 million tonnes per year, which would fulfil Mongolia’s domestic fuel requirements. This project represents a landmark achievement in bilateral economic cooperation and demonstrates India’s commitment to supporting Mongolia’s economic development and energy security.

The information technology sector has also emerged as a promising area for collaboration. Indian IT companies have shown interest in the Mongolian market, while Mongolian professionals have benefited from training programs in India. The upcoming presidential visit is expected to explore enhanced cooperation in digital infrastructure, e-governance, and technology transfer.

Trade relations, while modest in volume, have shown steady growth. Both nations have identified potential for expansion in sectors including pharmaceuticals, textiles, food processing, and mining equipment. The Mongolian President’s visit to India could potentially lead to new trade agreements and investment facilitation mechanisms to unlock greater economic potential.

Cultural and Educational Ties

The civilizational bond between India and Mongolia, rooted in shared Buddhist heritage, continues to provide a strong cultural foundation for bilateral relations. India’s assistance in preserving and restoring Buddhist monasteries in Mongolia has been particularly appreciated. The Kushok Bakula Rimpoche Centre in Ulaanbaatar serves as a hub for Buddhist studies and cultural exchanges.

Educational cooperation represents another vital dimension. India offers numerous scholarships to Mongolian students under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) program and other initiatives. Many Mongolians have studied in Indian universities, creating people-to-people connections that strengthen bilateral ties. The Mongolian President’s visit to India is expected to announce expanded scholarship programs and academic exchange initiatives.

Regional and Multilateral Cooperation

Both India and Mongolia collaborate extensively in multilateral forums, including the United Nations, the  Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, and various regional platforms. They share common positions on issues such as UN Security Council reform, counter-terrorism, and climate change. The upcoming visit of the Mongolian President to India will likely coordinate positions on global challenges and explore opportunities for enhanced cooperation in international organisations.

Mongolia’s participation in India’s Vision for the Indo-Pacific and support for a rules-based international order align with New Delhi’s strategic objectives. Similarly, India supports Mongolia’s third neighbour policy and its aspirations for greater economic integration with the Asia-Pacific markets.

Future Trajectory

The Mongolian President’s visit to India in October 2025 is poised to chart an ambitious roadmap for bilateral relations over the coming years. Expected outcomes include agreements on defence cooperation, economic partnerships, cultural exchanges, and strategic consultations. The visit will reinforce the Strategic Partnership framework and potentially elevate engagement to new levels.

As both nations navigate complex regional dynamics, the Mongolian President’s visit to India demonstrates their commitment to deepening ties based on mutual respect, shared values, and complementary interests. This engagement reflects India’s proactive diplomacy in its extended neighbourhood and Mongolia’s strategic diversification efforts.

The strengthening India-Mongolia partnership serves as a model for South-South cooperation and demonstrates how middle powers can forge meaningful strategic relationships beyond their immediate geography. As President Khürelsükh arrives in India this October, both nations will build upon seven decades of friendship to create a more robust, multifaceted partnership equipped to address 21st-century challenges and opportunities.