MONGOLIA RESPONSE: REQUESTING SPECIFIC CONTRIBUTIONS TO

C O N F I D E N T I A L ULAANBAATAR 000096


E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/09/2019
TAGS: PREL MOPS MARR NATO MG
SUBJECT: MONGOLIA RESPONSE: REQUESTING SPECIFIC CONTRIBUTIONS TO
AFGHANISTAN

REF: A. STATE 31102

B. ULAANBAATAR 094

Classified By: ECONOFF VINCENT SPERA FOR REASONS 1.4 A, B, AND D


1. (C) In response to ref A, Mongolia has been informed of
the conclusions of the U.S. strategic review and the U.S.
requested support, which was forwarded to Mongolia in
Secretary of Defense Gates' letter to Mongolian Minister of
Defense Bold in late February. Recent meetings by State EAP
DAS Norris with Senior Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade
officials, including the Foreign Minister (ref B),as well as
Ministry of Defense leadership, including Vice Minister
Basankhuu, reiterated the U.S. requests. Requests were
further conveyed in visits by three senior U.S. general
officers over the past two weeks.


2. (C) Our Mongolian interlocutors have indicated a
willingness to participate on the working level, albeit with
caveats that a strong degree of financial support from the
U.S. will be required. The final decision to support or not
will be made by the three members of the Mongolian National
Security Council: the President, Prime Minister, and Speaker
of Parliament. Post notes that input from the Ministry of
Finance may also be an influential factor. Deployments may
be weighed heavily with regard to fiscal impact, as Mongolia
is under major budget pressure due to decreased income from
copper sales, slowing foreign direct investment, and other
policy factors. It is also highly probable that any final
support decision will be held off until after the upcoming
May 24 presidential elections.


MINTON