The 17th edition of the India-Mongolia joint military exercise, “Nomadic Elephant,” concluded today in Ulaanbaatar with a grand closing ceremony, marking a significant chapter in the evolving defence partnership between the two countries.
India’s Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh, serving as the Guest of Honour, presided over the ceremony alongside Mongolia’s Deputy Chief of the General Staff, Brigadier General Baatar Baljid, India’s Ambassador to Mongolia Atul M. Gotsurve, and Lieutenant General Puspendra Singh, Director General of Operational Logistics and Strategic Movement.
The exercise, which commenced earlier this month, brought together 45 personnel from India’s Arunachal Scouts and 150 troops from Mongolia’s Special Forces. Over the course of the drills, both sides engaged in joint tactical training and cultural exchanges, reinforcing military cooperation and mutual understanding.
In his address, Defence Secretary Singh praised the discipline and synergy displayed by both contingents, emphasizing the role of such exercises in promoting regional peace and strategic collaboration. The ceremony featured formal honours, group photographs, and the symbolic display of the Indian and Mongolian flags set against Ulaanbaatar’s rugged hills.
Initiated in 2004, “Nomadic Elephant” has grown into a key platform for military engagement, reflecting the strategic elevation of India-Mongolia relations since Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 2015 visit. The 12th India-Mongolia Joint Working Group meeting held in May 2024 further reinforced this momentum, opening new avenues for defence cooperation.
Mongolia’s strategic location between Russia and China adds a geopolitical dimension to the partnership. Experts note that India’s expanding military presence and aid, highlighted in 2024 by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, could help balance regional power dynamics.
The successful completion of this year’s exercise underscores the growing interoperability between the two armed forces and sets a solid foundation for future collaborations in regional security and defence.
