In his greeting, Ambassador Masaru Igawahara noted that in recent years, Japanese-Mongolian cooperation in the field of defense has been rapidly developing in many areas, and this is the result of strong trust and joint efforts of the Japan Self-Defense Forces and the Armed Forces of Mongolia, based on shared values. This was reported by MiddleAsianNews.
Among the attendees at the reception were members of parliament, cabinet ministers, Minister of Defense Batlut Damba, Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces, Lieutenant General Ganbymba Sunrev, Mongolian military personnel who graduated from Japan's Self-Defense Forces educational institutions, relevant staff from the Armed Forces, foreign ambassadors in Mongolia, and other officials.
Masaru Igawahara
Batlut Damba
In a statement, the Japanese embassy emphasized that "We hope for further development of defense cooperation and exchanges between Japan and Mongolia, which will contribute to peace and stability both in these countries and in the region as a whole," the document states.
The Japanese Self-Defense Forces and the Armed Forces of Mongolia operate within the framework of a "Special Strategic Partnership," aimed at developing peacekeeping skills, providing humanitarian assistance, and ensuring stability in the region. Since 2010, they have actively participated in joint exercises such as "Khaan Quest" and "Road," focusing on engineering tasks, convoy escorting, and defense technology exchanges.
In 2024, Japan and Mongolia plan to sign an agreement on the transfer of defense equipment and technology.
The Japanese Self-Defense Forces train Mongolian engineers, including for participation in UN peacekeeping missions.
The status of the partnership was elevated in 2022 to "Special Strategic Partnership for Peace and Security," reflecting a deeper commitment to ensuring regional stability.
Within the framework of cooperation, the focus is on developing engineering capabilities, as well as providing Mongolia access to modern technologies and training to support international peacekeeping operations.
Recently, interaction between the two countries has significantly intensified, achieving concrete results in strengthening mutual understanding and cooperation in the field of security. The Japanese Self-Defense Forces have also played an important role in international exercises held in Mongolia.
left: Batlut Damba and Masaru Igawahara
The Japanese government and the Ministry of Defense of Mongolia are implementing a "Capacity Building Program," which includes two directions for training personnel of the Armed Forces of Mongolia participating in UN peacekeeping operations.
The program includes: 1. "Chadwick Improvement Program," under which doctors and specialists from the Military Hospital of Mongolia conduct joint exercises with the Central Hospital of the OECD and the Japan Health School on providing medical assistance in disaster conditions.
2. The "Enhancement of the Engineering Corps of the Armed Forces of Mongolia" program, developed by the Japanese university BHU, aims to train engineers and specialists in road construction, train instructors, and exchange experiences. Since 2014, 12 training courses have been conducted, including personnel assessment, road, dam, and bridge construction, as well as preparation for land assessment.
