MONGOLIA | Turning Towards the West?

Mongolia turning towards the West? That would be a big steppe.

They have no choice, they are sandwiched between Russia and China. It’s like asking if the Navajo Nation in the American Southwest has a choice turning towards China or Russia.

Mongolia isn't talked about too much, but I am always impressed by their presidential guard's drip.

Everybody gangsta until Mongolia starts making “historical claims”

I was in Mongolia 🇲🇳 exactly 2 weeks ago. It was my first visit to this mysterious, remote, and beautiful country. I noticed a contrast there; some places including the airport and the center of Ulaanbaatar are incredibly modern while many other places are truly under developed. From the small size of the airport, albeit modern, you can tell that not many people go there. It's a gorgeous country but the tourism infrastructure there maybe has a room to grow. About switching sides, I don't think the geography of Mongolia will allow them to move away from Russia and China. There're deep historical ties between them and Russia and China, especially Russia. Many Mongolians still speak Russian to this day even thougu the Soviet Union was dissolved more than 30 years ago. In my opinion, I think it's wise for smaller countries surrounded by super powers such as Mongolia, Ukraine, or Central Asian republics to remain neutral and to keep good relations with their immediate neighbours first and the rest of the world second. Simply put, you can't escape geography :-)

Mongolia is basically surrounded by China and Russia, and is landlocked. It would be suicide for Mongolia to align itself with the West in confrontation with China and Russia.

How exactly does Mongolia turn? It's literally stuck.

The best tell tell sign. Mongolia is one of the few mainland East Asian countries helping N Korean escapees going straight to S Korea.

In that case, China and Russia just have to close their air space and land route to Mongolia. Good luck to their rocketry or tunnel digging technology

I'm sure Mongolia just wants to be left alone lol

Mongolia is going to have to follow the Swiss model. Neutrality, essential products/services, and a defense policy that doesn't make it worth it to touch them.

As a Mongolian, this guy's analysis is right on the money. We'd like to be more friendly with the west but the simple reality is we will always have to play this balancing act between Russia and China. And the circumstance is getting harder as they're becoming increasingly close to one another in the last 10 years.

Did you know that today is election day in Mongolia? Chances are you didn’t. It doesn’t get much attention. However, while the country is largely ignored by the international media, behind the scenes, policymakers from Russia, China, and the West are engaged in a battle to strengthen their ties to the strategically vital country. So, do you think that it is shifting towards the West? More to the point, if relations sour between Russia and China, which side would it take? As always, I look forward to your thoughts and comments.

The World is North, East, South and West. So, don't choose sides. You choose one side and you loose 3 other sides. Steer your own course

I could never imagine that Mongolia would be discussed on current geopolitics channels. Great job, Professor!

As like most countries, Mongolia don't want to go into unnecessary direct conflict with the US or the west but they won't side with the US nor the west. They will still work with the US and the west whenever it's beneficial for both. It is a grand wishful thinking that they will side with the US. It simply just won't happen. Same goes for most countries.

I couldn't agree with you more, dear professor. Mongolia has to diversify its foreign allies and economic ties and has every right to pursue policies that lead to not over-relying on either Russia or China. But at the same time, it has to be very very cautious not to piss off either one of these powers that literally encircle Mongolia. One move by Russia or China and Mongolia is gone for good. Mongolia is not Ukraine.

This is what I love about your channel. You cover place all around the world and countries and issues that don’t normally get global attention. I never see anything about Mongolia in the news

I just got back from visiting Mongolia last week. Beautiful country and people.

Mongolia can be independent and do what it's best for their countries. One of the key requirement to join BRICS is adopting unilateral sanctions without UN consent. This has been brought forward by Russia and all of the members in BRICS agrees to it. Also, Russia-China released a joined statement stating no sanctions policy or something.. I do not remember the exact words... China or Russia won't choke Mongolia economically or militarily. The problem with people who argue this is that they are from west and literally think rest of the world will also think like them... Again, Russia has demonstrated they do not care which country side with their enemy or ally. The best example is Armenia. Armenia left CSTO, asked Russian troops to withdraw after ceding the villages to Azerbaijan. moving towards west and, Russia does not flinch and put sanctions on them or something. They obliged and troops came home already. Philippines placing US troops, Intermediate range missiles, weapons facing China but China did not do anything other than warning and request to take their security interest into account. Please do not say only US can put sanctions... China is a trading partner of 120 countries and capable enough to run their economy domestically for years.. Philippines top trading partner is China and, you do not see China stopping their supplies and choking them economically. Do you? Somehow Russia, China are imperialists... Idk those who say this eats something different than humans. Now, I am still waiting for the US troops to leave Syria, Iraq where the people and head of state asked to get out years and months ago respectively. Turkey bought weapons from Russia, sanctions on Turkey, a key NATO ally. India imported oil and diamonds from Russia, sanctions on some Indian companies. Russians used UAE, Kazakhstan, Turkey for their business transaction and sanction on these country banks... Somehow US is democracy and free world. Well, this is how democracy look and works like then it's not going anywhere except to the path of destruction...