Third neighbor policy

Last updated

The third neighbor policy is a facet of foreign relations of Mongolia referring to its building relationships with countries other than Russia and China, [1] the two superpowers that historically had a sphere of influence extending to the country. The economy of Mongolia is dependent on exploitation of the country's mineral resources, which include copper, gold, uranium and coal, [1] and thus the country is vulnerable to pressure from foreign countries and corporations involved in resource extraction. Countries that have been characterized as "third neighbors" include the United States, South Korea, France and other developed nations.

Contents

By building relationships with nations beyond its immediate neighbors, Mongolia aims to:

United States

In mid-March 2018, president Khaltmaagiin Battulga appealed to U.S. President Donald Trump via telegram to more trade relations, saying an economic downturn threatened to destabilize Mongolia, and that although Mongolia is an "oasis of democracy", this "does not contribute to economic development" in a region where authoritarianism (China and Russia) in on the rise. [3] [4] [5] The United States is one of Mongolia's Third Neighbors, which Battulga said that U.S. trade and investment could help prevent the return of authoritarian in Mongolia.

Another development occurred in 2023. Mongolian Prime Minister Luvsannamsrain Oyun-Erdene visited Washington DC on the invitation of US Vice President Kamala Harris in August 2023. [6] [7] [8]

On the November 30th, 2023, the "Mongolia Third Neighbor Trade Act" was introduced in the U.S. Senate by Senator Dan Sullivan of Alaska. [9] The bipartisan act was simultaneously introduced in the House of Representatives by Vern Buchanan of Florida and Dina Titus of Nevada. [10] If approved, Mongolia’s high-quality cashmere and textiles could be exported to the United States duty-free.

France

On May 21, 2023, Emmanuel Macron visited Mongolia, the first ever visit to Mongolia by a French President. [11]

As of 2019, bilateral trade between France and Mongolia remains limited. In 2017, bilateral trade stood at €26.1 million (€21.8 million of exports from France to Mongolia, against €4.3 million of import from Mongolia to France). [12] [13]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mongolia</span> Country in East Asia

Mongolia is a landlocked country in East Asia, bordered by Russia to the north and China to the south. It covers an area of 1,564,116 square kilometres, with a population of 3.5 million, making it the world's most sparsely populated sovereign state. Mongolia is the world's largest landlocked country that does not border a closed sea, and much of its area is covered by grassy steppe, with mountains to the north and west and the Gobi Desert to the south. Ulaanbaatar, the capital and largest city, is home to roughly half of the country's population.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mongolian Armed Forces</span> Combined military forces of Mongolia

The Mongolian Armed Forces is the collective name for the Mongolian military and the joint forces that comprise it. It is tasked with protecting the independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of Mongolia. Defined as the peacetime configuration, its current structure consists of five branches: the Mongolian Ground Force, Mongolian Air Force, Construction and Engineering Forces, cyber security, and special forces. In case of a war situation, the Border Troops, Internal Troops, Judicial enforcement agency and National Emergency Management Agency can be reorganized into the armed forces structure. The General Staff of the Mongolian Armed Forces is the highest professional military management organization of the state military organization and operates independently from the Ministry of Defense, its government controlled parent body. Mongolian military day is celebrated on 18 March, similar to Defender of the Fatherland Day in Russia and PLA Day in China.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Foreign relations of Mongolia</span>

Mongolia has diplomatic relations with all 192 UN states, the Holy See, the State of Palestine and the European Union.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">China–European Union relations</span> Bilateral relations

Relations between the European Union (EU) and the People's Republic of China (PRC) or Sino–European relations are bilateral relations that were established in 1975 between the PRC and the European Community. The EU is the PRC's largest trading partner, and the PRC is the EU's largest trade partner.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">China–France relations</span> Interstate relations between China and France

China–France relations, also known as Franco-Chinese relations or Sino-French relations, are the interstate relations between China and France.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Australia–France relations</span> Bilateral relations

Diplomatic relations exist between Australia and France, as well as the historical contacts, shared values of democracy and human rights, substantial commercial links, and a keen interest in each other's culture.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brazil–France relations</span> Bilateral relations

Brazil–France relations are the bilateral relations between the Federative Republic of Brazil and the French Republic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mongolia–United States relations</span> Bilateral relations

Bilateral relations between Mongolia and the United States formalized in 1987 with the establishment of diplomatic relations. Since then, the United States has become a key third neighbor to Mongolia, and in 2019 this relationship was upgraded to a strategic partnership. Ties focus on education, development assistance, and defense.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mongolia–Russia relations</span> Bilateral relations

Mongolia–Russia relations have been traditionally strong since the Communist era, when the Soviet Union supported the Mongolian People's Republic. Mongolia and Russia remain allies in the post-communist era. Russia has an embassy in Ulaanbaatar and two consulates general. Mongolia has an embassy in Moscow, three consulates general, and a branch in Yekaterinburg. Both countries are full members of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sükhbaataryn Batbold</span> Mongolian politician

Sükhbaataryn Batbold is a prominent Mongolian political figure and leader, who was Prime Minister of Mongolia from 2009 to 2012, as well as Chairman of the Mongolian People's Party. He was previously Minister of Foreign Affairs in the government of his predecessor, Sanjaagiin Bayar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Malaysia–Mongolia relations</span> Bilateral relations

Malaysia–Mongolia relations refers to bilateral foreign relations between Malaysia and Mongolia. Neither country has a resident ambassador. Malaysia has an honorary consulate in Ulaanbaatar, and Mongolia honorary consulate in Bangkok was accredited to Malaysia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Luvsannamsrain Oyun-Erdene</span> Mongolian politician (born 1980)

Oyun-Erdene Luvsannamsrain is a Mongolian politician who has served as the prime minister of Mongolia since 27 January 2021. He has been elected to the State Great Khural (Parliament) three times since 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Khaltmaagiin Battulga</span> Former President of Mongolia (born 1963)

Khaltmaagiin Battulga, also referred to as Battulga Khaltmaa, is a Mongolian politician and sambo wrestler who served as the 5th President of Mongolia from 2017 to 2021. He served as Member of the State Great Khural from 2004 to 2016 and Minister of Roads, Transportation, Construction and Urban Development from 2008 to 2012. Before his career in politics, Battulga was a sambo wrestling champion. He was the Democratic Party's candidate in the 2017 presidential election and was elected President with 50.6% in the run-off, the first-ever run-off election in modern Mongolian history. Mongolians are divided about his role in the 2019 Mongolian constitutional crisis. He was elected as a Member of the State Great Khural for the fourth time in the 2024 parliamentary election.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">France–Mongolia relations</span> Diplomatic relations between the French Republic and Mongolia

France–Mongolia relations are the bilateral relations of France and Mongolia.

The 2019 Mongolian constitutional crisis refers to legislation that has been criticized as threatening Mongolia's democracy by undermining its constitutional separation of powers. Though there is no consensus on the exact date the crisis began, many point to 27 March 2019, when the Mongolian Parliament adopted an unprecedented law empowering the National Security Council of Mongolia to recommend the dismissal of judges, prosecutors, and the head of the Anti-Corruption Agency. Proposed by President Khaltmaagiin Battulga, the law was ratified by a majority of the ruling Mongolian People's Party.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2021 Mongolian presidential election</span>

Presidential elections were held in Mongolia on 9 June 2021. The result was a victory for former prime minister Ukhnaagiin Khürelsükh of the Mongolian People's Party, who received 72% of the valid vote. The elections were considered free and fair by OSCE. However, there was controversy as several opposition candidates were disqualified and former president Khaltmaagiin Battulga was barred from running for a second term.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">France–Taiwan relations</span> Bilateral relations

France–Taiwan relations are bilateral relations between France and Taiwan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2023 France–China Summit</span> Meeting between Emmanuel Macron, Ursula von der Leyen, and Xi Jinping

The 2023 France–China summit was a three-day state visit by Emmanuel Macron, the President of France, to China from April 5 to 7, 2023. It was Macron's first visit to China since the COVID-19 pandemic and his third since taking office in 2017. He was accompanied by a delegation of more than 50 CEOs and met with members of the French business community in China. He also met with Xi Jinping, the General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party and President of China, and Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Commission, to discuss various issues. By recalling the solid foundation of China-France relations and the friendship between the two peoples, the two heads of state had an in-depth exchange of views on bilateral relations, China-EU relations and major international and regional issues, especially the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine and China's potential role as a mediator between Russia and the West. The visit was seen as an attempt to "reconnect" with China after three years of its zero-Covid policy and despite Beijing's increasing benevolence to Russia in the context of the Russo-Ukrainian war.

References

  1. 1 2 Fogarty, Philippa (10 September 2008). "Why Mongolia wants more neighbours". BBC News.
  2. ↑ "Mongolia FAQ". www.mongoliaweekly.org. Retrieved 2024-09-21.
  3. ↑ "Mongolia president appeals to U.S. for trade to protect democracy". Reuters. 13 March 2018 – via mobile.reuters.com.
  4. ↑ "Page not found!". Times of Oman.{{cite web}}: Cite uses generic title (help)
  5. ↑ https://www.euronews.com/2018/03/13/mongolia-president-appeals-to-us-for-trade-to-protect-democracy [ dead link ]
  6. ↑ Lkhaajav, Bolor (2023-10-05). "US making 'third neighbor' moves on Mongolia". Asia Times. Retrieved 2024-05-16.
  7. ↑ House, The White (2023-08-03). "Joint Statement on the Strategic Third Neighbor Partnership between the United States of America and Mongolia". The White House. Retrieved 2024-05-16.
  8. ↑ "How Mongolia's Third Neighbor Policy Can Bolster Its Tourism Sector". thediplomat.com. Retrieved 2024-05-16.
  9. ↑ Lkhaajav, Bolor. "US-Mongolia 'Third Neighbor Trade Act' On The Way". thediplomat.com. Retrieved 2024-05-16.
  10. ↑ "Rep. Titus Announces the Introduction of the Mongolia Third Neighbor Trade Act". Congresswoman Dina Titus. 2023-11-30. Retrieved 2024-05-16.
  11. ↑ "French President Emmanuel Macron Makes a Historic Visit to Mongolia". thediplomat.com. Retrieved 2024-05-16.
  12. ↑ étrangères, Ministère de l'Europe et des Affaires. "France and Mongolia". France Diplomacy - Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs. Retrieved 2024-05-16.
  13. ↑ "What's Driving the France-Mongolia Rapprochement?". thediplomat.com. Retrieved 2024-05-16.


This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.