Defence ministry representatives from India and Mongolia convened in Ulaanbaatar on 16 October 2026 for the fourteenth session of the Joint Working Group, producing a renewed commitment to deepen military cooperation ties between the two countries.

Talks between the two sides centred on the state of existing defence ties, avenues for broadening military collaboration, ways to strengthen capacity-building programmes, and fresh areas of engagement within the framework of the India-Mongolia Strategic Partnership.

Presiding over the gathering were Dr Ishita Ganguli Tripathy, Joint Secretary at India's Ministry of Defence, and Brigadier General Gansukh E., Deputy State Secretary of Defence for Mongolia.

Defence cooperation has taken on a more prominent place within the bilateral relationship, a shift underpinned by the shared historical, cultural, and civilisational foundations connecting the two nations.

Across both delegations, a joint review of active defence cooperation work took place, with each side assessing the progress made under shared bilateral programmes. Expanding cooperation across jointly identified areas formed part of the agenda, alongside a commitment to maintain institutional channels between the two countries' Defence Ministries on an ongoing basis.

Talks between the two sides covered a range of regional and global matters, with both parties pointing to the value of maintaining diplomatic channels and building on their bilateral ties.

Representatives from both nations confirmed joint completion of Exercise Nomadic Elephant, the recurring field training programme conducted between Indian Army units and the Mongolian Armed Forces. The drill provides bilateral defence ties with practical reinforcement, giving troops on both sides the opportunity to develop joint operational methods, exchange professional knowledge, and build working rapport.

A meeting between Dr Ishita Ganguli Tripathy and Major General Usukhbayar J., Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Mongolian Armed Forces, also took place during the visit. Delegations from each party reported that military-to-military cooperation had advanced in ways that both sides described as satisfactory.

Those talks addressed pathways toward expanded military collaboration, reinforced defence ties, and a forward-oriented agenda under the India-Mongolia Strategic Partnership.

An Indian team toured Mongolia's National Defence University, where attention focused on the Cyber Security Training Centre — a facility constructed with Indian support — and its operational record. The facility was built to expand Mongolia's military readiness, adding a layer of practical infrastructure to the country's broader defence-training framework. Mongolian delegates pointed to cybersecurity support and language training provided by India as among the areas of cooperation discussed during the session.

India's ongoing support for skills development and formal training among personnel serving in Mongolia's armed forces also drew recognition from the Mongolian side.

Ties rooted in history, culture, and shared civilisational heritage have long connected India and Mongolia, with a common religious heritage and an extended record of cultural exchange forming part of that foundation. What began as a single strand of contact has since grown into an arrangement spanning political dialogue, defence cooperation, and a range of education, training, and capacity-building programmes.

At their 14th Joint Working Group session, defence officials from India and Mongolia reaffirmed ties between the two countries' military establishments and outlined plans to deepen structured cooperation. Talks held in Ulaanbaatar added momentum to the India-Mongolia Strategic Partnership, with areas of cooperation grounded in shared interests, mutual trust, and a history of close ties between the two countries.