U.S.Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defence Heino Klinckand Mongolia Ministry of Defence State Secretary D.Gankhuyag have held a virtual meeting to conduct the 17th annual U.S.-Mongolia Bilateral Consultative Council. Because of the time difference, the meeting took place onJan.5 (Washington, D.C.) and Jan.6 (Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia).

Mongolian Minister of Defence G.Saikhanbayar provided the closing remarks.

The officials reaffirmed their commitment to the U.S.-Mongolia bilateral relationship and agreed to advance defence cooperation on matters of common interest to support a free and open Indo-Pacific.

DASD Klinck thanked State Secretary Gankhuyag for Mongolia’s commitment to international peace and stability, including Mongolia’s continued contributions to coalition efforts in Afghanistan and United Nations Peacekeeping Operations.

DASD Klinck also discussed current regional security issues and ties between Mongolia and the United States under the third-neighbour framework.

Officials committed to enhance defence cooperation and collaboration to address current security challenges and to advance common interests.