The central focus of the discussions was the large-scale oil refinery project being constructed in Mongolia with India’s assistance, valued at approximately 1.7 billion US dollars. Jaishankar stated that this project represents the most significant element of the strategic partnership between the two countries.
Following his meeting with Mongolia’s Foreign Minister, Jaishankar said that both sides discussed a wide range of areas including capacity building, technology cooperation, economic and trade engagement, supply chain resilience, defence collaboration, and energy security. He added that the discussions were “positive and warm,” reflecting the growing depth of bilateral ties.
Education also featured prominently in the talks, with English language learning identified as a key area of cooperation between India and Mongolia. The minister highlighted the cultural and spiritual connection between the two countries, noting that a large Buddhist population resides in Mongolia, where Buddhism traces its origins to India. He also referenced India’s support for the Gandan Monastery in Mongolia.
Jaishankar stated that the visit aimed at further strengthening the strategic partnership between the two nations. He emphasized that India and Mongolia are not only strategic partners but also share a deeper civilizational connection, which he described as a “brother-sister” relationship.
Mongolia, which is geographically landlocked between Russia and China, has increasingly positioned India as its “third neighbor” and “spiritual neighbor” in an effort to diversify its diplomatic and economic partnerships. This approach comes amid Mongolia’s heavy dependence on China for trade, which has often been described as dominant in its economy.
According to the report, China has frequently imposed trade pressure and restrictions on Mongolia, particularly when Ulaanbaatar engages in independent foreign policy decisions or hosts the Dalai Lama. Such actions have included tariffs and disruptions to transit routes, reflecting Beijing’s broader geopolitical influence over the region.
Experts believe that China views the growing India–Mongolia partnership as strategically significant. The report notes that India is constructing the 1.7 billion dollar oil refinery in Mongolia, while the two countries also conduct joint military exercises and India is assisting in enhancing Mongolia’s border security capabilities. Bilateral relations are described as being at their highest level.
The partnership is also driven by India’s growing demand for critical minerals. Mongolia holds vast reserves of uranium, rare earth elements, coal, gold, and copper, resources that are also of strategic interest to China. Experts suggest that Beijing’s influence over Mongolia is partly aimed at securing control over these valuable mineral resources, while Mongolia seeks to counterbalance this pressure through stronger ties with India.
The visit underscores a rapidly expanding strategic alignment between India and Mongolia, shaped by shared economic interests, defence cooperation, cultural ties, and a mutual interest in maintaining geopolitical balance in a region dominated by powerful neighbours.
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