By Shannon Tiezzi
During his stopover in Mongolia, Secretary Hagel promised increased US military aid and training to Mongolia.
U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel finished his Asia tour with a brief stop in Mongolia, where he and Monglian Defense Minister Dashdemberal Bat-Erdene promised to increase military cooperation. Hagel praised Mongolia as a growing economic power and “a stabilizing influence in Asia.” In what might have been an indirect swipe at China, Hagel added that Mongolia “is seeking to modernize its military in a transparent fashion.”
Before the visit, J. Berkshire Miller outlined for The Diplomat why increasing defense cooperation was a goal for both the U.S. and Mongolia. For the U.S., improving ties with all regional players is an important part of the “rebalance to Asia” strategy. Further, Mongolia’s friendly relations with the U.S. and NATO (as seen through Mongolian participation in NATO mission from Kosovo to Afghanistan and Iraq) makes Mongolia an attractive partner in regional security for the United States. The U.S. also holds Mongolia up as a successful example of an Asian democracy, a point Hillary Clinton repeatedly made (to China’s dismay) during her 2012 visit to Ulan Bator. Given this, the U.S. is happy to help increase Mongolia’s say in regional security and economic affairs.
Read the full story at The Diplomat