EAM Jaishankar Begins Four-Day Visit to Mongolia and South Korea
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will embark on a four-day official visit to Mongolia and the Republic of Korea starting Monday, June 22, 2026. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) confirmed that the visit will run from June 22 to 25, with the aim of strengthening bilateral ties and discussing key regional and global issues.
Schedule and Meetings in Mongolia
According to an official MEA release, Jaishankar will be in Mongolia on June 22 and 23. During his stay, he will meet with Mongolian leadership and hold discussions with his counterpart, Foreign Minister B Battsetseg. The talks are expected to cover a range of topics including trade, energy, and infrastructure projects.
Keynote Address at Jeju Forum in South Korea
Following his Mongolia visit, Jaishankar will travel to South Korea on June 24 and 25. He will hold discussions with South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun. Additionally, on June 25, he will deliver the keynote speech at the Jeju Forum for Peace and Prosperity in Jeju, a major annual event focusing on regional cooperation and peace.
Background of India-South Korea Relations
The visit comes after Prime Minister Narendra Modi met South Korean President Lee Jae-Myung on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Evian, France. During that meeting, PM Modi recalled President Lee's visit to India and expressed optimism about strengthening ties in emerging sectors. Earlier in April, President Lee visited India, where both leaders agreed on a Joint Strategic Vision to implement and expand the India-ROK Special Strategic Partnership over the next five years (2026-2030).
India-Mongolia Partnership and Energy Project
On the Mongolia front, President Khurelsukh Ukhnaa visited New Delhi in October 2025 for a four-day state visit. He met with PM Modi and EAM Jaishankar to discuss the next decade of cooperation. A key outcome is the Mongolia oil refinery project, India's largest Line of Credit (LoC)-backed infrastructure project, funded by a USD 1.7 billion LoC from India. The refinery is expected to become operational by 2028, marking a major milestone in bilateral ties and supporting Mongolia's energy independence.
