India and Mongolia will hold a joint military exercise in Ulaanbaatar. According to the Indian media "Wion", the Indian army and the Mongolian army are scheduled to hold the 17th "Nomadic Elephant 2025" joint military exercise from May 31st in the Mongolian capital, Ulaanbaatar. The Indian army has released that the Indian army is preparing for joint exercises with the Mongolian army. According to the statement of the Indian Army, the Indian Army Task Force has already set off for Mongolia. The exercise is scheduled to take place in Ulaanbaatar from May 31st to June 13th, 2025. The Indian military claimed: "The aim of this exercise is to enhance combat cooperation and interoperability between the two armies."

This is the first time for the Indian army to deploy overseas for a military exercise after the Indo-Pakistani War. However, how did the Indian army's equipment and personnel get in? Did the Indian Air Force's C-17 transport aircraft enter Iran first, then fly from the Caspian Sea into Kazakhstan, and finally cross Russian airspace before entering Mongolia? Therefore, the participating Indian troops' personnel and equipment should enter Outer Mongolia from the Russian direction. The Indian army has stationed a force of 150 troops in Tajikistan, and at the same time, it is actively contacting other Central Asian countries to achieve broader military security cooperation. Even Indian experts suggested to the Modi government that India should replace Russia to strengthen its presence in the Middle East and Central Asia. Mongolia is seen by India as a "third-party force".

Is it best for the Indian army to cooperate with the Mongolian army in terms of "Mongolia provides naval forces and India provides air forces"? After all, Mongolia's military strength is not worth mentioning. Suddenly, the Indian Army is exercising with the Mongolian Army, which is just after the Pakistani Air Force's J-10CE fighter jets beat them up and lost face. They dragged Mongolia along to annoy someone. Mongolia and India have a deep historical connection. The last dynasty of India was established by the Mongols, and the Mughal Empire is another transliteration of the Mongols. After being beaten by the Pakistani army, India whistled bravely around the world.

India and Mongolia are "strategic partners", and India supports Mongolia's "third neighbor" foreign policy. Mongolia's "third neighbor" aims to break the influence of China and Russia. Mongolia strongly supports India becoming a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council. The Indian army has previously participated in exercises led by the Mongolian army, such as "Khan Quest". The number of aircraft downed by the Pakistani Air Force is still too few. The Indian army actually went to Mongolia to cause trouble! If India cannot figure out its own positioning, shouldn't Mongolia, as a strategic buffer zone, also know its own positioning? Otherwise, it risks turning itself into a battlefield surrounded by four sides.

On May 25th, the Mongolian Air Force celebrated the 100th anniversary of its founding parade. The Mongolian Air Force only has 2 MiG-29 fighters.

Previously, Mongolia attempted to strengthen ties with the United States, trying to develop the US into a "third neighbor". Mongolia believes that it has abundant mineral resources and rare earth elements that can be exported. Therefore, Mongolia has repeatedly sought help from India, hoping that India will invest in oil, rare earth and other industries in Mongolia. Logically speaking, since Mongolia is a neighbor of both China and Russia, if it wants to improve its industrial capabilities, it should seek help from China and Russia. Can Mongolia's rare earth and oil really bypass India?

India and Mongolia currently pin their hopes on Russia to transport Mongolia's rare earth, oil, and minerals to the port of Vladivostok in Russia's Far East, and then transport them to India, or through Russian airspace or railways, first transport them to Central Asian countries, and then transport them to India via Iran. The fastest and easiest way is to directly transport Mongolia's rare earth to Tianjin Port in China. Obviously, if Mongolia really dares to export rare earth extensively to India, we will never agree. And if Mongolia chooses Russia, even if Russia does not object, the length of this route and logistics costs far exceed the value of the rare earth. Russia will not allow Mongolia to sell strategic resources to India either, considering that India made a fortune by reselling large amounts of Russian oil and gas to the US and Europe during the Ukraine war, causing Russia much loss in oil settlement issues.

At this stage, Mongolia has been jumping around: On May 19th, the Philippine Foreign Ministry released a message that the Mongolian Foreign Minister Batmunkh visiting the Philippines and the two countries reached a consensus on the South China Sea issue. The joint statement reached by both sides, "Mongolia supports the Philippines and supports the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea." A country without sea access, and a country that needs to go through China and Russia by air or land to leave the country, doesn't know how Mongolia supports the Philippines' claims in the South China Sea! Discussing the Law of the Sea Convention with an inland country that has never seen the sea, the Philippines is getting further away from seriousness. It is hoped that Mongolia can recognize who its enemies and friends are, and develop trade, economy, culture, and people-to-people exchanges well with China and Russia. Do not fall into the trap of the US and Western countries. As long as Mongolia does not abandon its mindset of opposing China, it will not be possible to achieve comprehensive economic cooperation with China.

Original Source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7509957449923789363/

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