Defence Minister Rajnath Singh Gets Horse As Gift From Mongolian President

ULAANBAATAR: India's Defence Minister Rajnath Singh received as gift a beautiful horse from Mongolia's President Ukhnaagiin Khürelsükh on Wednesday, while on a visit to the country.

Singh's visit to Mongolia from September 5 to 7 is the first-ever official tour by an Indian Defence Minister to the East Asian country.

The gift of a horse to Singh came seven years after Prime Minister Narendra Modi received a similar gift from the country's leadership.

Singh named the horse Tejas, after the indigenous Indian, single engine, delta wing, light multi-role fighter.

Singh took to Twitter on Wednesday to express his pleasure, "A special gift from our special friends in Mongolia. I have named this magnificent beauty, 'Tejas'. Thank you, President Khürelsükh. Thank you Mongolia," The post included pictures of the white horse gifted to him.

Earlier on Tuesday, Singh met with Mongolian President Khürelsükh to review strategic bilateral ties.

Ukhnaagiin Khürelsükh, also referred to as Khürelsükh Ukhnaa, is the 6th and current president of Mongolia, beginning his term on June 25, 2021, after winning the 2021 Mongolian presidential election.

"Excellent meeting with the President of Mongolia, H.E. U. Khürelsükh in Ulaanbaatar. Recalled my last meeting with him in 2018, when he was the Prime Minister of the country. We are fully committed to further deepening our multifaceted Strategic Partnership with Mongolia," he tweeted after the meeting.

Prime Minister Modi had also received a special gift, a brown racehorse from his then-Mongolian counterpart, Chimed Saikhanbileg on his historic visit to Mongolia in 2015.

Defense Minister Singh embarked on a trip to Mongolia and Japan starting Monday, where is travelling on a five- day visit, with the purpose of strengthening India's strategic and defense ties with both nations. The visit assumes significance against the backdrop of a shifting regional security landscape and escalating geopolitical unrest.

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