WASHINGTON -- U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense (DASD) Heino Klinck and Mongolia Ministry of Defense State Secretary D. Gankhuyag met virtually to conduct the 17th annual U.S.-Mongolia Bilateral Consultative Council, Jan. 5 (Washington, D.C.) and Jan. 6 (Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia). Mongolian Minister of Defense G. Saikhanbayar provided closing remarks.

Officials reaffirmed their commitment to the U.S.-Mongolia bilateral relationship and agreed to advance defense cooperation on matters of common interest to support a free and open Indo-Pacific.

DASD Klinck thanked State Secretary Gankhuyag for Mongolia’s commitment to international peace and stability, including Mongolia’s continued contributions to coalition efforts in Afghanistan and United Nations Peacekeeping Operations. DASD Klinck also discussed current regional security issues and ties between Mongolia and the United States under the third neighbor framework.

Officials committed to enhance defense cooperation and collaboration to address current security challenges and to advance common interests.