Badmaanyambuugiin Bat-Erdene, Ministro de Defensa de Mongolia, observó recato al evidenciar pudor soberano en favor de dicha nación eliminando "...la posibilidad de recibir bases estadunidenses (en su territorio) como las de Sudcorea y Japón."
---
"Bajo la lupa
EU busca acorralar a Rusia y China
Alfredo Jalife-Rahme
Chuck Hagel, jefe del Pentágono, con el primer ministro de
Mongolia, Norov Altankhuyag, en Ulán BatorFoto
Reuters
El mandamás del Pentágono Chuck Hagel tuvo un periplo muy peñascoso
en la región Asia-Pacífico: acudió a la reunión de los ministros de Defensa del
sudeste asiático en Hawai, luego visitó Japón donde emitió una descortés
declaración contra China, donde se detuvo acrobáticamente cuatro días para
concluir su gira en Mongolia.
Chuck Hagel promovió
fuertes (sic) lazos militarescon Mongolia, como
contrapeso a sus poderosos vecinos Rusia y Chinahttp://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asiapacific/hagel-pushes-us-military/1066766.html.
Dashdemberel Bat-Erdene, ministro de Defensa de Mongolia, y Chuck Hagel
firmaron una declaración de
visión conjunta, con el fin de expandir la cooperación militar mediante ejercicios conjuntos y la
ayudade Estados Unidos.
Aunque sea simbólico, el documento no cesa de provocar exasperación en China,
que culpa a Washington de frenar su ascenso armónico mediante la creación de
lazos militares con sus pequeños vecinos asiáticos.
Para Chuck Hagel el acuerdo militar con Mongolia forma parte del
requilibrio estadunidense en la región de Asia-Pacifico, en referencia a la política del
pivotede Obama (ver Bajo la Lupa; 21/11/12 y 20/02/13) que ha causado una profunda preocupación en China.
Por lo menos Bat-Erdene eliminó la posibilidad de recibir bases
estadunidenses como las de Sudcorea y Japón.
Mongolia –1.5 millones de kilómetros cuadrados, con tres millones de
habitantes, un raquítico PIB de 11 mil millones de dólares y transfronteras de 4
mil 677 kilómetros con China y 3 mil 543 kilómetros con Rusia– ha sido
secuestrada por la naturaleza y carece de salida al mar (http://www.alfredojalife.com/?p=1064).
La minería de Mongolia constituye un verdadero botín –pletóricas reservas de
carbón, cobre, oro, molibdeno, fluorita, uranio, estaño y tungsteno– que ha
ayudado a transformar su economía aún dependiente de una vida nómada que
rememora a su legendario conquistador Genghis Khan hace 900 años.
El intercambio militar entre Estados Unidos y Mongolia es meramente alegórico
cuando Washington gasta 2 millones de dólares al año para los vehículos
militares/equipamiento de comunicaciones de Ulán Bator (su capital) y un millón
para entrenar al magro ejército de 10 mil soldados.
El polémico Donald Rumsfeld había sido el último secretario del Pentágono que
había visitado Mongolia hace nueve años.
¿Qué busca Chuck Hagel en Mongolia cuando Estados Unidos se repliega en Iraq
y Afganistán, mientras abre un nuevo frente en el Mar Negro? ¿Amarrar navajas
contra sus vecinos Rusia y China?
¿Caerá Mongolia en la pérfida trampa de Estados Unidos que golpea en todos
sus flancos a Moscú y Pekín?
Mongolia es muy dependiente de sus intercambios transfronterizos con China y
Rusia.
Según la CIA, su comercio con China representa más de la mitad del total de
sus exportaciones, mientras depende de Rusia en su abastecimiento energético
mediante la compra de 76 por ciento de su gasolina y combustible diesel, así
como de una cantidad sustancial de energía eléctrica.
Según Oxford Business Group, Mongolia dispone de 16.8 por ciento del total de
los
metales terrestres raros(
earth-rare metals), detrás de China, mientras las remesas de sus expatriados provienen principalmente de China (14 millones de dólares), Rusia (2 millones) y Corea del Sur (2 millones).
La gira de Chuck Hagel a China fue tormentosa, pese a que en forma inusitada
visitó al único portaviones chino (frente al grupo de 10 de Estados Unidos), en
medio de su confrontación pública sobre las disputas territoriales de Pekín con
Japón y Filipinas, así como las relaciones chinas con Norcorea.
La invitación al único portaviones chino (de construcción ucraniana en la
época de la URSS) es interpretado como el deseo de China de resaltar su
resolución a proyectar poderío naval(NYT; 10/04/14).
Durante su estancia de dos días en Japón, Chuck Hagel reclamó un acuerdo por
la vía
pacífica(sic) –poco usual en la filosofía del pugnaz EU– de las disputas territoriales que confrontan a Pekín con Japón en el Mar del Este de China y con Filipinas en el Mar del Sur de China.
Por cierto, las Islas Diaoyu fueron entregadas a Japón en 1971 por un error
administrativode Estados Unidos, en lugar de devolverlas a China (http://www.forbiddenknowledgetv.com/videos/geopolitics/diaoyu-islands-the-truth.html).
Chuck Hagel externó que Estados Unidos mantendría sus tratados de alianza
militar con Japón y Filipinas, mientras fulminó, en clara alusión a China, que
ningún país debe usar la
coercióno la
intimidaciónpara intentar arreglar sus reclamos territoriales.
En forma insólita se suscitó un altercado durante la conferencia de prensa de
los dos ministros de Defensa de Estados Unidos y China en Pekín.
Cuando Chuck Hagel exhortó a China a no usar la fuerza en sus litigios con
Japón, su homólogo Chang Wanquan ripostó que Estados Unidos no debía
entrometerse (Ria Novosti; 10/04/14).
Chuck Hagel recordó durante el altercado que Estados Unidos tiene un pacto de
seguridad para proteger a Japón que, por lo visto, no temen en absoluto los
militares chinos, quienes deben estar aprendiendo cómo, mediante una magistral
jugada de ajedrez en Crimea, Putin ha puesto de cabeza a los temerarios
estrategas de Estados Unidos/Unión Europea/OTAN, sin necesidad de bravatas
exorcistas ni invasiones.
Por lo pronto, China dejó muy claro que, en referencia a su
integridad territorial, no harían
ningún compromiso, consenso o transacción comercialy tampoco tolerarían la mínima agresión, según explaya sin tapujos el rotativo ruso Ria Novosti:
la visita de Chuck Hagel revela el estado presente de las relaciones entre China y Estados Unidos, quienes desean desarrollar la cooperación, dándole incluso relevancia a las relaciones militares, mientras sus
diferendos (sic) permanecen profundos y considerables, prácticamente
insuperables.
Según Vladimir Evseïev, Estados Unidos está bluffeando en su pretendida
defensa de Japón y Filipinas en sus disputas territoriales con China.
El rotativo ruso juzga que son demasiados frentes los que está abriendo
Estados Unidos en estos momentos al enviar dos destructores al Mar Negro,
mientras prometen reforzar tanto la defensa antiaérea en Polonia como su
presencia en los países bálticos, sin contar su presencia militar en el Golfo
Pérsico, por lo que
Estados Unidos carece en la capacidad de enviar fuerzas navales significativas para apoyar a sus aliados en Asiay recurre a la
retóricade
incrementar su presencia en Asia-Pacífico, lo que subentiende la disuasión a China.
Pero sucede que
los chinos tienen consciencia perfecta de que Estados Unidos no tiene nada que pudiera realmente disuadirlos, sentencia el rotativo ruso,
razón por la cual China ha dejado abierta la opción de una solución militar (¡super-sic!) a los problemas territoriales.
Como si lo anterior fuera poco,
Pekín puso en su lugar bruscamente a los estadunidenses debido a su injerencia (sic) en Taiwán.
Muy diáfano, el rotativo ruso describe que
el principal motivodel viaje de Chuck Hagel
era muy probablemente la tentativa de arrancar China a Rusiay de
impedir su acercamiento.
A mi juicio, en el
mundo post-Crimea, la próxima visita en mayo a China del nuevo Bismark ruso Vlady Putin, que será definitoria del nuevo orden multipolar, se planeó durante el periplo de Chuck Hagel.
La prueba mayúscula será, además del muy cantado gasoducto, el tipo de armas
que libre Rusia a China, como los muy sofisticados aviones Sukhoi y el alquiler
(sic) de submarinos nucleares polivalentes.
Twitter: @AlfredoJalife
---
"Bajo la Lupa
Crisis en Ucrania:
golpe dramático al acercamiento de Europa y los BRICS: según LEAP2020
Alfredo Jalife-Rahme
El presidente en funciones de Ucrania, Aleksandr Turchinov,
informó que concluyó con éxito un operativo conjunto del Ministerio del
Interior y el servicio de seguridad, que retomaron el control del aeródromo
militar de Kramatorks, en la región de Donietsk. En la imagen, el general Vasyl
Krutov (centro), a la entrada del aeropuertoFoto Ap
Por salud cartesiana, es conveniente enterarse de puntos de vista
dialécticamente antitéticos a lo expuesto por Bajo la Lupa, como el reciente
abordaje muy polémico de LEAP2020 (Laboratoire Européen d’Anticipation
Politique), prominente centro de pensamiento geoeconómico, con sede en París,
que se ha caracterizado por ser muy crítico de la unipolaridad de Estados Unidos
(EU) y de favorecer el renacimiento del
poder europeoen alianza con los BRICS (Brasil, Rusia, India, China y Sudáfrica). El entusiasmo de LEAP2020 llega a tal grado que ha establecido una red de la relación
Euro-BRICS.
Marie-Helene Caillol, presidenta de LEAP2020 (4/4/14), adopta un punto de
vista muy pesimista sobre el devenir de la Unión Europea (UE) y la
multipolaridad. Para ella, la crisis de Ucrania es
intencionada: la fuerza a
escoger entre la UE y Rusia.
Juzga que la británica Catherine Ashton, a cargo de las relaciones exteriores
de la UE, rechazó la negociación tripartita propuesta por Rusia en noviembre
pasado que acomodaba los intereses de Rusia, la UE y Ucrania. Faltó EU, que ni
tardo ni perezoso aceleró el golpe de Estado e instaló al títere
fondomonetarista en Kiev.
Juzga que hoy
el verdadero objetivo de la maniobra (sic) es la UE, su independencia y su libertad, ya que el abrupto deterioro de la relación euro-rusa arroja a la UE a los brazos de EU/OTAN.
El GEAB (Global Europe Anticipation Bulletin) número 83
(16/3/14) de LEAP2020 preconiza que se ha construido
una trampa para desviar a la UE de su propio destino. Y no solamente se trata del aislamiento de Europa y su alejamiento de Rusia, por extensión a los BRICS, sino que EU busca integrar al euro a la
zona dólar, al unísono del
ataque masivo por EU mediante la Asociación Trasatlántica para el Comercio y las Inversiones (TTIP, por sus siglas en inglés).
A Caillol le faltó añadir el otro brazo ominoso de las tenazas mercantilistas
de EU para apropiarse de las dos terceras partes del comercio global: el Acuerdo
de Asociación Transpacífico (TPP, por sus siglas en inglés) que va dirigida
contra China y cuya matriz operativa es ahora la Alianza del Pacífico, de la que
forma parte el entregado
México neoliberal itamita.
Para Caillol, quien peca de excesivo eurocentrismo,
la UE es la llave de la emergencia de un mundo multipolar que aterra demasiado a algunas gentes de Europa y EU. ¿Qué tanto poder real de decisión detenta la UE a la hora de la verdad? ¿Recuerdan el “ fucking Europe” despreciativo de Vicky Nuland, la amazona del Departamento de Estado?
LEAP 2020 practica una aritmética lineal casi simplista al operar el
bloquismoentre el
bloque EU+UEy los BRICS, susceptible de desembocar en una “nueva guerra fría, a sabiendas que Occidente en esta ocasión acabaría siendo aislado”.
Es mucho más hípercomplejo que eso cuando no se pueden ignorar los matices y
las matrices operativas tanto en el G-7, cada vez más desfigurado, como en los
BRICS, donde la cohesión no es tan uniforme tampoco.
Como buena eurocentrista, Caillol asevera que
sin la UE, EU no posee el vehículo necesario para romper el proceso multipolar en cursoy considera que dependiendo de su elección –ya sea mediante
una alianza de hierro con EU, ya sea al
abrazar las futuras tendencias tanto de los países emergentes y los BRICS–
el mundo se moverá a una configuración bipolar o multipolar.
A mi juicio, sí existe de facto una bipolaridad meta-regional entre
el G-7, cada vez más desarticulado, y los BRICS, en búsqueda de su pegamento
metafísico, lo cual resguarda en el trasfondo una
confrontación entre EU y China. Es curioso que tal bipolaridad meta-regional se conjugue a la inevitable multipolaridad que ya inició y que el mismo EU disfraza con el término más vago de
multilateralismo, para no dar su orgulloso brazo ideológico a torcer.
Por encima del muy loable idealismo idílico de Caillol sobre el Leviatán
hobbesiano, reduce la multipolaridad al
acercamiento entre la UE y los BRICS, cuando el problema intrínseco de la UE es que exhibe varias velocidades en su seno: de norte a sur y de oeste a este, que parecen reflejar la existencia multidimensional de
cuatro Europasde facto: 1. Gran Bretaña, que se cuece aparte por su
relación especialcon EU. 2. La del norte, encabezada por el liderazgo geoeconómico alemán. 3. La parte latina despreciada por los financieristas británicos con el acrónimo PIGS (por sus siglas en inglés: Portugal, Italia, Grecia y España), a la que empiezan a sumar a Francia, y 4. El centro y el este, su parte más rusófoba por estímulo de EU/OTAN, sumida en una profunda crisis financiera y económica.
En forma
dramática, Caillol sentencia que la
multipolaridad ha sufrido un severo revéscuando la UE se
encuentra atrapada en una trampa y cuya debilidad (¡súper sic!) política parece prevenirle escapar de ella. Sin contar, a mi juicio, el peligroso ascenso del fascismo/nazismo en las recientes elecciones y las veleidades centrífugas en varios de sus puntos: Escocia, País Vasco, Cataluña, Liga del Norte (Venecia), Transnistria, Córcega y ahora Ucrania.
LEAP 2020 exclama que la
UE experimenta cruelmente las consecuencias dramáticas (sic) de su negligencia para implementar su unión políticaal haber sucumbido al modelo de
integración económicabajo la
influencia anglosajonaen favor de una Europa enteramente económica (libre comercio, etcétera), en medio de la crisis en Ucrania y el socavamiento de la relación euro-rusa por la expansión territorial de la OTAN.
Uno de los barómetros del destino europeo lo finca correctamente en la
evolución del
rápido progreso del TTIP, uno de los dos brazos de las ominosas tenazas geopolíticas de EU.
Considera que, en el mismo tenor, también la crisis ucraniana
arroja a Rusia a los brazos de los BRICS. No tanto de los BRICS, como de China, que no necesariamente es lo mismo y coloca juiciosamente en relieve el verdadero
punto de inflexión( game changer): el muy cantado proyecto del gasoducto de Rusia a China.
Cita a Rakteem Katakey, de Bloomberg, que expone todo lo contrario de la
propaganda goebbeliana de Occidente y su “revolución energética del siglo XXI,
otra trampa, a mi juicio, en la que sucumbió el
México neoliberal itamita: “la reconfiguración de la política del petróleo que acelera el empuje de Rusia para enviar más barriles a China, dejando a Europa con importaciones más caras y el impulso de la dependencia (¡súper sic!) de los hidrocarburos de Medio Oriente.
A mi juicio, tanto EU como la UE padecen una profunda declinación, que va más
allá de su materialismo hedonista, cuando su única liberación verdadera pasa por
Berlín al haber sucumbido catastróficamente los demás
europeosbajo la férula nostálgica de la evanescente unipolaridad.
Hoy Europa se encuentra tan fragmentada como la misma Ucrania y no es
gratuito que la seducción tanto de Rusia como de China, los dos pilares
geoestratégicos de los BRICS, pase por Alemania, su máxima geoeconomía que
decidirá el destino del rompecabezas de las partes fracturadas. ¿La dejará
EU?
Europa, nombre de una princesa fenicia de Tiro, vuelve a ser raptada por EU,
el Zeus decadente del siglo XXI a punto de quedarse sin su Olimpo.
Twitter: @AlfredoJalife
---
"News Transcript
Press Operations
Joint Press Conference with Secretary Hagel and Minister Bat-Erdene in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
Presenters: Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel and Mongolian Minister of Defense Dashdemberel Bat-Erdene
April 10, 2014
April 10, 2014
MODERATOR (through translator): (off mic) minister of defense and member of the parliament of Mongolia and honorable secretary of defense of the United States, Mr. Chuck Hagel.
SECRETARY OF DEFENSE CHUCK HAGEL: Thank you.
MINISTER OF DEFENSE DASHDEMBEREL BAT-ERDENE (through translator): Good afternoon and welcome to everyone. Today, honorable secretary of defense of the United States, Mr. Chuck Hagel, is (off mic)
SEC. HAGEL: Thank you.
MIN. BAT-ERDENE: -- and we had the opportunity to exchange views on bilateral relations and (off mic). Since we established a defense cooperation in 1991, based on the values and friendship between the two nations, we are developing cooperation in many fields, such as enhancing our peacekeeping capabilities between (off mic) and also training of (off mic) in the United States.
Also, we discussed the present status of defense cooperation between our two countries, Asia perspectives, and also participation of our military personnel in international peacekeeping and coalition operations. And also in addition to this traditional ways of preparation, we also touched some new ways of cooperation between our two countries.
We are not only a passive observer in the international arena, but Mongolia is willing to actively participate in our (off mic) international peace and security. This is an important rationale for Mongolia’s foreign policy and (off mic) will continue actively participating in international peacekeeping and other (off mic) international organizations.
I'm confident that today's visit is very important in the developing bilateral relations, especially in (off mic) and opening a new page in our bilateral defense cooperation.
Mr. Hagel, thank you so much taking your time and coming to (off mic) and now I would like for you to take the floor.
SEC. HAGEL: Minister, thank you. I very much appreciate your invitation to visit Mongolia. As we discussed, Ulaanbaatar is the final stop on my 10-day visit here to the Asia Pacific region.
I wanted to visit Mongolia because it's a valued partner of the United States. As one of the world's fastest-growing economies, Mongolia has a growing stake in regional and global security.
On the basis of these many shared interests, our nations built strong economic, diplomatic and security ties. And we both want to strengthen these ties.
In our meeting that we just held, I commended the minister for the significant contributions the Mongolian armed forces have made to security around the world through their participation in many activities. These include United Nations peacekeeping operations and also by fighting alongside the United States in Afghanistan and Iraq.
As I told the minister, I very much look forward to visiting Mongolian troops this afternoon. I want to thank them for their services and their sacrifices. Over the past decade, our two militaries have benefited from working together and learning from each other. The joint vision statement that the minister and I just signed, as he has noted, expresses our shared desire to continue deepening that defense relationship.
As Mongolia invests in defense modernization, the United States will continue to work with our Mongolian partners to improve joint training and exercises. And this will include increasing opportunities for Mongolia to observe and participate in multilateral exercises. We will also work together to increase the ability of our forces to work even closer together.
And we discussed some of those opportunities this afternoon. A strong U.S.-Mongolia defense relationship is important to America's rebalance to the Asia-Pacific region. I have noted that point in the last 10 days I've been in the region and the minister and I discussed it this afternoon.
I did share with the minister some of my reflections on this 10-day trip. I briefed him on all of the stops that I have made during this visit. I told him about candid exchanges I had at every stop, including my most recent three days in China. And I specifically mentioned the conversations I had in China regarding the regional security issues and China and America's shared interests in putting our military-to-military relationship on a stronger footing, which we think is good for the Asia Pacific region.
I've met with 13 Asia Pacific defense ministers on this trip. And from all of those discussions in this 10-day trip, it's clear to me that preserving the region's growth and dynamism and opportunities depends on forging even stronger security relationships throughout this region, increasing cooperation in areas of common interests and resolving disputes peacefully.
There are many challenges facing all nations of this region today, but also many opportunities. We must continue to work together to seize these opportunities as we all build a better future for all of our people.
Minister, thank you.
MIN. BAT-ERDENE (through translator): Now we are going to (off mic) answers (off mic) two questions.
Q (through translator): If the United States (off mic) Mongolia as an important partner in Asia Pacific, what kind of ways of defense cooperation are you looking for in the future?
SEC. HAGEL: Thank you for the question. Well, I think what the minister and I talked about and which we agreed to, we signed a new statement of vision to address this issue, builds on the current exercises and the joint ventures that we have had over the last few years. Iraq, Afghanistan are but two.
But also in the training area of an exercise that has been going on for the last few years will continue this year as we increase our partnership members conquest and the Five Hills Training Center, which we continue to build on.
We'll continue to do more together regarding humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. And more joint exercise training opportunities that we discussed, new ones today.
Thank you.
MODERATOR (through translator): The first question from the American press delegation is Ernesto Londono from the Washington Post.
Q: Good afternoon. Thank you for your hospitality. My first question is for the minister. I wonder if, as the United States expands its footprint in this region, if Mongolia would be willing to consider at some point allowing the U.S. to have bases or troops in this area.
And for Secretary Hagel, Afghanistan in recent days conducted an election that has been seen as having unfolded in a largely positive way. Does this bring the administration any closer to planning its potential post-2014 mission? When might we expect some sort of an announcement as to how this changes that calculation?
MIN. BAT-ERDENE (through translator): Thank you for your interesting question. (off mic) establish foreign military bases or participation of foreign troops in the country.
SEC. HAGEL: Ernesto, thank you. Let me first address your question this way. It's important that the world recognize that Afghanistan, as you noted, has just had a successful election, an election that actually according to the preliminary judgments before the ballots were cast really went beyond what most forecasts were as to turnout, number of ballots cast, and it was a remarkable success for a country that has come a long way through a very difficult situation. The people of Afghanistan deserve credit. The Afghan forces deserve credit for being able to conduct that election.
Regarding a post-2014 decision for the United States, you know President Obama has said the United States position is, along with our NATO and ISAF partners, that if the Afghan people invite us to stay in Afghanistan, we do believe that we could play a role to continue to help the people of Afghanistan through train, assist and advise missions.
So with the first step along the way in Afghanistan complete, and that being an election, and according to at least preliminary results, there most likely will be a run-off election, the bilateral security agreement inviting the United States to stay, as well as our NATO-ISAF partners, which we are all planning for, which you know that, then we will await decisions based on the invitation from the people of Afghanistan.
Thank you.
Q (through translator): How do you see the present status of defense cooperation between our countries, and how do you see their future perspectives?
SEC. HAGEL: It's a question for me?
MODERATOR (through translator): For both.
SEC. HAGEL: Oh, for both of us.
Q: Yes.
SEC. HAGEL: Okay. Well, we, the United States, believe that the military cooperation between Mongolia and the United States is very solid, it's very strong, and we look forward to continuing to deepen and strengthen our military cooperation and relationship. And that was much about why we signed this new statement of vision between our two militaries.
Thank you.
MIN. BAT-ERDENE (through translator): I would like to answer. The assistance of the U.S. Department of Defense, his contribution (off mic) and we really appreciate it. And Mongolia wants to be not only a passive observer on the international arena, but we want to be actively engaged in international operations and in strengthening world and regional peace.
Also, a lot of Mongolian military personnel got their education in U.S. military schools and (off mic) and we can say they also contribute to our defense transformation.
Our (off mic) is not directed against any (off mic) party. And as we say, Mongolia is a peace-loving country. And this main principle is (off mic) cooperation.
MODERATOR (through translator): Our final question today is from Dion Nissenbaum of the Wall Street Journal.
Q: Thank you. Thank you. Mr. Secretary, I wanted to ask you a little bit about Ukraine and if you were concerned that Russia could use the growing instability in eastern Ukraine as a pretext to send in troops and if Russia can credibly argue that its troops on the borders are there for exercises when there's no evidence to suggest that they are.
And for the minister, I wanted to ask you if you had concerns that the United States cuts to its defense budget could imperil its efforts and actually increase its involvement in this region. Thank you.
SEC. HAGEL: Yes, the United States -- all of our allies in NATO and in Europe are concerned about Russia's actions. They have -- they have violated the territorial integrity of a sovereign nation. The uncertainty that they continue to project with provocative actions heightens the tensions, and obviously NATO and the European Union have responded to that, will continue to respond to that. As you know, Secretary Kerry is scheduled to meet Minister Lavrov, I think, next week on this issue, but it's dangerous, it's irresponsible, and the Russians have got to take action to show the world that they are going to behave within the international boundaries of international law and international norms.
MIN. BAT-ERDENE (through translator): Our defense cooperations goal is to strengthen regional and world peace, and so that's why the main direction or area of our cooperation is enhancing the peacekeeping capabilities of (off mic) and I do believe that -- and we discussed this issue with Secretary Hagel -- and I do believe that (off mic) or some economic problems, our cooperation will not alter, and it will be (off mic)
Q (through translator): (off mic) that we are planning to (off mic) develop our cooperation and look for better way areas or areas to enhance its involvement in international peacekeeping (off mic) what would be the outcome of that?
MIN. BAT-ERDENE (through translator): I would say that we are very pleased with the current status of our defense cooperation. And as I said, our preparations (off mic) on many things, including enhancing peacekeeping capabilities (off mic) and anticipation of (off mic) soldiers in our international peacekeeping not only enhances professional skills, but it enhances sophistication in the international arena, and I think that our cooperation will develop in many, many new areas and we did today discuss some new areas, including enhancing capabilities of military medical service.
Thank you, everybody. Appreciate it.
SEC. HAGEL: Thank you."
http://www.defense.gov/Transcripts/Transcript.aspx?TranscriptID=5413
SECRETARY OF DEFENSE CHUCK HAGEL: Thank you.
MINISTER OF DEFENSE DASHDEMBEREL BAT-ERDENE (through translator): Good afternoon and welcome to everyone. Today, honorable secretary of defense of the United States, Mr. Chuck Hagel, is (off mic)
SEC. HAGEL: Thank you.
MIN. BAT-ERDENE: -- and we had the opportunity to exchange views on bilateral relations and (off mic). Since we established a defense cooperation in 1991, based on the values and friendship between the two nations, we are developing cooperation in many fields, such as enhancing our peacekeeping capabilities between (off mic) and also training of (off mic) in the United States.
Also, we discussed the present status of defense cooperation between our two countries, Asia perspectives, and also participation of our military personnel in international peacekeeping and coalition operations. And also in addition to this traditional ways of preparation, we also touched some new ways of cooperation between our two countries.
We are not only a passive observer in the international arena, but Mongolia is willing to actively participate in our (off mic) international peace and security. This is an important rationale for Mongolia’s foreign policy and (off mic) will continue actively participating in international peacekeeping and other (off mic) international organizations.
I'm confident that today's visit is very important in the developing bilateral relations, especially in (off mic) and opening a new page in our bilateral defense cooperation.
Mr. Hagel, thank you so much taking your time and coming to (off mic) and now I would like for you to take the floor.
SEC. HAGEL: Minister, thank you. I very much appreciate your invitation to visit Mongolia. As we discussed, Ulaanbaatar is the final stop on my 10-day visit here to the Asia Pacific region.
I wanted to visit Mongolia because it's a valued partner of the United States. As one of the world's fastest-growing economies, Mongolia has a growing stake in regional and global security.
On the basis of these many shared interests, our nations built strong economic, diplomatic and security ties. And we both want to strengthen these ties.
In our meeting that we just held, I commended the minister for the significant contributions the Mongolian armed forces have made to security around the world through their participation in many activities. These include United Nations peacekeeping operations and also by fighting alongside the United States in Afghanistan and Iraq.
As I told the minister, I very much look forward to visiting Mongolian troops this afternoon. I want to thank them for their services and their sacrifices. Over the past decade, our two militaries have benefited from working together and learning from each other. The joint vision statement that the minister and I just signed, as he has noted, expresses our shared desire to continue deepening that defense relationship.
As Mongolia invests in defense modernization, the United States will continue to work with our Mongolian partners to improve joint training and exercises. And this will include increasing opportunities for Mongolia to observe and participate in multilateral exercises. We will also work together to increase the ability of our forces to work even closer together.
And we discussed some of those opportunities this afternoon. A strong U.S.-Mongolia defense relationship is important to America's rebalance to the Asia-Pacific region. I have noted that point in the last 10 days I've been in the region and the minister and I discussed it this afternoon.
I did share with the minister some of my reflections on this 10-day trip. I briefed him on all of the stops that I have made during this visit. I told him about candid exchanges I had at every stop, including my most recent three days in China. And I specifically mentioned the conversations I had in China regarding the regional security issues and China and America's shared interests in putting our military-to-military relationship on a stronger footing, which we think is good for the Asia Pacific region.
I've met with 13 Asia Pacific defense ministers on this trip. And from all of those discussions in this 10-day trip, it's clear to me that preserving the region's growth and dynamism and opportunities depends on forging even stronger security relationships throughout this region, increasing cooperation in areas of common interests and resolving disputes peacefully.
There are many challenges facing all nations of this region today, but also many opportunities. We must continue to work together to seize these opportunities as we all build a better future for all of our people.
Minister, thank you.
MIN. BAT-ERDENE (through translator): Now we are going to (off mic) answers (off mic) two questions.
Q (through translator): If the United States (off mic) Mongolia as an important partner in Asia Pacific, what kind of ways of defense cooperation are you looking for in the future?
SEC. HAGEL: Thank you for the question. Well, I think what the minister and I talked about and which we agreed to, we signed a new statement of vision to address this issue, builds on the current exercises and the joint ventures that we have had over the last few years. Iraq, Afghanistan are but two.
But also in the training area of an exercise that has been going on for the last few years will continue this year as we increase our partnership members conquest and the Five Hills Training Center, which we continue to build on.
We'll continue to do more together regarding humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. And more joint exercise training opportunities that we discussed, new ones today.
Thank you.
MODERATOR (through translator): The first question from the American press delegation is Ernesto Londono from the Washington Post.
Q: Good afternoon. Thank you for your hospitality. My first question is for the minister. I wonder if, as the United States expands its footprint in this region, if Mongolia would be willing to consider at some point allowing the U.S. to have bases or troops in this area.
And for Secretary Hagel, Afghanistan in recent days conducted an election that has been seen as having unfolded in a largely positive way. Does this bring the administration any closer to planning its potential post-2014 mission? When might we expect some sort of an announcement as to how this changes that calculation?
MIN. BAT-ERDENE (through translator): Thank you for your interesting question. (off mic) establish foreign military bases or participation of foreign troops in the country.
SEC. HAGEL: Ernesto, thank you. Let me first address your question this way. It's important that the world recognize that Afghanistan, as you noted, has just had a successful election, an election that actually according to the preliminary judgments before the ballots were cast really went beyond what most forecasts were as to turnout, number of ballots cast, and it was a remarkable success for a country that has come a long way through a very difficult situation. The people of Afghanistan deserve credit. The Afghan forces deserve credit for being able to conduct that election.
Regarding a post-2014 decision for the United States, you know President Obama has said the United States position is, along with our NATO and ISAF partners, that if the Afghan people invite us to stay in Afghanistan, we do believe that we could play a role to continue to help the people of Afghanistan through train, assist and advise missions.
So with the first step along the way in Afghanistan complete, and that being an election, and according to at least preliminary results, there most likely will be a run-off election, the bilateral security agreement inviting the United States to stay, as well as our NATO-ISAF partners, which we are all planning for, which you know that, then we will await decisions based on the invitation from the people of Afghanistan.
Thank you.
Q (through translator): How do you see the present status of defense cooperation between our countries, and how do you see their future perspectives?
SEC. HAGEL: It's a question for me?
MODERATOR (through translator): For both.
SEC. HAGEL: Oh, for both of us.
Q: Yes.
SEC. HAGEL: Okay. Well, we, the United States, believe that the military cooperation between Mongolia and the United States is very solid, it's very strong, and we look forward to continuing to deepen and strengthen our military cooperation and relationship. And that was much about why we signed this new statement of vision between our two militaries.
Thank you.
MIN. BAT-ERDENE (through translator): I would like to answer. The assistance of the U.S. Department of Defense, his contribution (off mic) and we really appreciate it. And Mongolia wants to be not only a passive observer on the international arena, but we want to be actively engaged in international operations and in strengthening world and regional peace.
Also, a lot of Mongolian military personnel got their education in U.S. military schools and (off mic) and we can say they also contribute to our defense transformation.
Our (off mic) is not directed against any (off mic) party. And as we say, Mongolia is a peace-loving country. And this main principle is (off mic) cooperation.
MODERATOR (through translator): Our final question today is from Dion Nissenbaum of the Wall Street Journal.
Q: Thank you. Thank you. Mr. Secretary, I wanted to ask you a little bit about Ukraine and if you were concerned that Russia could use the growing instability in eastern Ukraine as a pretext to send in troops and if Russia can credibly argue that its troops on the borders are there for exercises when there's no evidence to suggest that they are.
And for the minister, I wanted to ask you if you had concerns that the United States cuts to its defense budget could imperil its efforts and actually increase its involvement in this region. Thank you.
SEC. HAGEL: Yes, the United States -- all of our allies in NATO and in Europe are concerned about Russia's actions. They have -- they have violated the territorial integrity of a sovereign nation. The uncertainty that they continue to project with provocative actions heightens the tensions, and obviously NATO and the European Union have responded to that, will continue to respond to that. As you know, Secretary Kerry is scheduled to meet Minister Lavrov, I think, next week on this issue, but it's dangerous, it's irresponsible, and the Russians have got to take action to show the world that they are going to behave within the international boundaries of international law and international norms.
MIN. BAT-ERDENE (through translator): Our defense cooperations goal is to strengthen regional and world peace, and so that's why the main direction or area of our cooperation is enhancing the peacekeeping capabilities of (off mic) and I do believe that -- and we discussed this issue with Secretary Hagel -- and I do believe that (off mic) or some economic problems, our cooperation will not alter, and it will be (off mic)
Q (through translator): (off mic) that we are planning to (off mic) develop our cooperation and look for better way areas or areas to enhance its involvement in international peacekeeping (off mic) what would be the outcome of that?
MIN. BAT-ERDENE (through translator): I would say that we are very pleased with the current status of our defense cooperation. And as I said, our preparations (off mic) on many things, including enhancing peacekeeping capabilities (off mic) and anticipation of (off mic) soldiers in our international peacekeeping not only enhances professional skills, but it enhances sophistication in the international arena, and I think that our cooperation will develop in many, many new areas and we did today discuss some new areas, including enhancing capabilities of military medical service.
Thank you, everybody. Appreciate it.
SEC. HAGEL: Thank you."
http://www.defense.gov/Transcripts/Transcript.aspx?TranscriptID=5413
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