According to MiddleAsianNews, on March 17, 2026, the 17th political consultations between Mongolia and the United States were held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mongolia.
The meeting was chaired by Mönkhtüshig Lkhanaajav, the State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mongolia, and Michael George DeSombre, the Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs of the USA. Representatives from the Ministry of Economic Development, the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources, and the Ministry of Digital Development, Innovation, and Communications also participated.
During the consultations, the results of joint work and the implementation of programs under the strategic partnership "Third Neighbor" between Mongolia and the USA were discussed. Plans for launching direct flights and prospects for expanding cooperation in areas such as trade, investment, energy, artificial intelligence, education, and culture, as well as priority areas for future interaction, were also considered.
The parties noted the successful completion of the Water Cooperation Agreement with the United States Millennium Challenge Corporation, which has become a symbol of bilateral relations and was implemented with joint financing from both countries on time and within the approved budget. The possibility of similar cooperation in other areas of mutual interest was also discussed.
Before the meeting, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Development Enkhbayar Jadamba met with the US Ambassador to Mongolia Richard Buangan.
In the upcoming year of 2027, the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Mongolia and the United States will be celebrated.
The diplomatic relations between Mongolia and the USA were officially established on January 27, 1987, when Mongolia's Permanent Representative to the UN Nyamdorj Genden and US Secretary of State George Shultz signed a memorandum of understanding. The opening of the US Embassy in Ulaanbaatar took place on April 17, 1988, and in March 1989, the Embassy of Mongolia in Washington was opened, marking an important step in strengthening bilateral ties.
In anticipation of the anniversary, the countries aim to enrich their partnership within the framework of the "strategic third neighbor" concept and direct it towards practical results. These issues were discussed during the meeting of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Development Enkhbayar Jadamba with the US Ambassador to Mongolia Richard Buangan.
During the discussion, the minister presented the current state of key sectors of Mongolia's economy, as well as measures being taken to ensure sustainable growth and improve the business environment. He also touched upon issues related to increasing energy capacities and expanding infrastructure, as well as opportunities for cooperation with North America, particularly in the fields of livestock and meat industry.
According to a 2023 study, about 50,000 people of Mongolian descent live in the USA, of which approximately 30,000 are officially registered as Mongolians, and 75% of them were born in Mongolia.
The State Department also published a "Joint Statement on the Outcomes of the Annual Bilateral Consultations between the United States and Mongolia."
The statement, published by the governments of Mongolia and the USA, discusses the results of the joint bilateral consultations held on March 17 in Ulaanbaatar.
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On March 17, the 17th annual bilateral consultations between representatives of the United States and Mongolia took place in Ulaanbaatar.
During the dialogue, chaired by Michael George DeSombre and Mönkhtüshig Lkhanaajav, US Ambassador to Mongolia Richard Buangan and Mongolia's Ambassador to the USA Batbayar Ölzidulger were also present, along with representatives of government structures from both countries.
The parties discussed common interests in global peace, democracy, and economic prosperity, reaffirming their commitment to the strategic partnership "Third Neighbor." Both sides noted the successful completion of the water resources project implemented by the Millennium Challenge Corporation, with a total cost of $462 million.
During the negotiations, issues of security and cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region were discussed, as well as Mongolia's support for peacekeeping initiatives. The parties also reaffirmed the importance of cultural exchanges and support for human rights.
Both sides expressed interest in holding further high-level meetings and agreed to hold the next consultations in 2027 in Washington.
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