At a meeting with Ms. Corinne Pereira, the Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the French Republic to Mongolia, Defense Minister Batlut Damba discussed issues of defense cooperation between the countries. These details were published in MiddleAsianNews.
At the beginning of the conversation, Minister Damba noted the positive development of diplomatic relations based on shared values and expressed a desire to move to the level of "strategic partnership."
He also expressed appreciation for the significant contribution of the French side to strengthening the capabilities of the Armed Forces of Mongolia, noting that cooperation in the defense sector is becoming increasingly substantive.
The Minister emphasized the importance of having a permanent French language instructor at the Mongolian National Defense University, which opens up new opportunities for training military personnel to participate in international peacekeeping missions and for further education in France.
Batlut expressed hope for continued support to deepen cooperation, especially in the training of Mongolian military personnel at military academies and universities in France, as well as for the participation of qualified French-speaking personnel in UN peacekeeping operations and other international organizations.
At the end of the meeting, Batlut wished the French ambassador and the military attaché accredited to Mongolia success in their activities and expressed confidence in the further strengthening of bilateral relations.
Diplomatic relations between Mongolia and France were established in 1965. Mongolia considers France as its "third neighbor," distinct from its geographically neighboring countries—Russia and China, with which it has long-standing and strong ties. These relations make France an important European partner for Mongolia.
From the French side, Mongolia is viewed as a "privileged partner in Asia," with which the democratic process has been actively supported since 1990, following the peaceful revolution. Both states are developing their relations based on principles such as respect for human rights, international law, strengthening multilateralism, supporting sustainable development, ensuring international peace and stability, as well as combating terrorism and protecting the environment.
Political contacts between France and Mongolia are characterized by regular high-level meetings.
President Emmanuel Macron's visit in May 2023 was an important milestone in deepening Franco-Mongolian partnership, highlighting active cooperation in areas such as economy, education, science, culture, and defense.
In response, President Khurelsukh Ukhna of Mongolia visited France in October 2023 at the invitation of his French counterpart.
