Jaishankar Strengthens Strategic Ties in Mongolia and South Korea

Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar conducted a four-day diplomatic tour of Mongolia and the Republic of Korea from June 22 to 25, 2026. The visit focused on implementing high-level agreements previously established between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the leadership of both nations.

In Ulaanbaatar, Jaishankar met with President Khurelsukh Ukhnaa and Foreign Minister Battsetseg Batmunkh to review the India-Mongolia Strategic Partnership. A primary focus was the Mongol Refinery Project, supported by a USD 1.7 billion Indian Line of Credit. Jaishankar inspected the construction site on June 23, noting that the crude oil pipeline is nearly 90% complete. Bilateral discussions also covered mining, clean energy, and agricultural processing, specifically leveraging India's wool processing expertise to produce cashmere. Cultural cooperation was highlighted through a visit to the Gandan Monastery, where India is supporting the digitization of one million Buddhist manuscripts.

Continuing his tour in South Korea, Jaishankar met with Foreign Minister Cho Hyun in Seoul on June 24. The ministers reviewed the Special Strategic Partnership, focusing on shipbuilding, defense, and fintech. The meeting built on momentum from President Lee Jae-myung's April visit to India and the 'Korea Week' hosted by the Indian Prime Minister's Office. The tour concluded with Jaishankar's scheduled keynote address at the Jeju Forum for Peace and Prosperity on June 25.