The multinational peacekeeping exercise Khaan Quest 2026 officially ended with a closing ceremony at the Five Hills Training Facility near Ulaanbaatar as soldiers from the Mongolian Armed Forces hosted United Nations participants from 18 different nations on July 3, 2026.

Opening remarks were given by Minister of Defense of Mongolia Gürsediin Saikhanbayar and Major General Gavin Gardner, commanding general, 8th Theater Sustainment Command.

“The Khaan Quest exercise once again proves the importance of cooperation among nations and strengthening peace and security. It also provides us the opportunity to work together in unity for our shared values. At the same time, this exercise has become an important event that has put military cooperation at the global and regional level into practical action,” said Saikhanbayar.

Since 2003, Khaan Quest has been a peacekeeping operations exercise hosted annually by the Mongolian Armed Forces and co-sponsored by U.S. Army Pacific. Khaan Quest 2026 is a multinational, multilateral and multicomponent training exercise designed to promote peace and security throughout the Indo-Pacific region.

"Over the years, Khaan Quest has grown into a premier event that not only strengthens interoperability, deepens regional security cooperation, and advances our shared interests," said Maj. Gen. Gardner.

This year marked the 23rd iteration of Khaan Quest. Approximately 1,300 participants from Australia, Canada, Egypt, Germany, Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Mongolia, the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, the United Kingdom, the United States, and additional partner nations took part in the exercise. The event featured both command post and field training exercises focused on peacekeeping, disaster relief, civil unrest response, and enhancing interoperability through cross-cultural communication.

“I am deeply appreciative of what our Soldiers across all nations have accomplished together. The skills they have gained not only deepened our people-to-people relationships but also strengthened our collective capacity to respond swiftly and effectively to future peacekeeping missions, humanitarian assistance, and disaster relief operations,” said Maj. Gen. Gardner.

During the exercise, participants were encouraged to partake in multicultural events and forge friendships. Each night after training, a participating nation performed a cultural demonstration to build relationships and foster cultural appreciation.

“Our people-to-people relationships, forged through exercises like Khaan Quest, demonstrate the profound value we place on our allies and partners,” said Maj. Gen. Gardner. “As I look across the parade field and into the stands, I see a remarkable diversity of military uniforms and individuals from around the world. Though our uniforms may differ, we are united for a common purpose and a shared commitment to peace and stability.”

The closing ceremony featured traditional Mongolian music and Mongolian soldiers in ceremonial garb.

“May the friendship of all the peacekeepers of the world and the blue helmets of the peacekeepers, who have united under the common goal of establishing peace throughout the world and who have met and built bonds of friendship under the blue skies and vast open lands of my beautiful homeland, remain strong,” said Saikhanbayar. “May our world be filled with peace and tranquility.”

Published Date:2026-07-09