DOES MONGOLIA NEED PERMANENT NEUTRALITY?

Former President Ts.Elbegdorj declared that Mongolia would seek a state of permanent neutrality at the United Nations General Assembly in 2015. After his declaration, Mongolian diplomats and officials have had different opinions about Mongolia’s state of permanent neutrality.

Former Mongolian Ambassador to Egypt D.Bayarkhuu repeatedly stated that Mongolia has been in a state of neutrality for many years, but Ts.Elbegdorj declared to make that status official.

Researchers of the Institute for Strategic Studies support Ts.Elbegdorj’s initiative by saying that a state of permanent neutrality will not conflict with the country’s active foreign policy such as participation in international peacekeeping activities, the hosting of of the Khaan Quest and Selenge military exercises in Mongolia, and cooperation in other regional economic megaprojects.

Former Minister of Foreign Affairs L.Erdenechuluun, who is against permanent neutrality, repeatedly claimed that Mongolia needs to consider the Russian and Chinese positions on this matter, and highlighted that both countries are not supporting Mongolia’s proposed permanent neutrality.

Researchers and officials who support this proposal usually compare Mongolia’s proposed permanent neutrality with that of Switzerland, Sweden, Finland, and Turkmenistan, but in reality, Mongolia’s permanent neutrality is incomparable to the reasons laid out by other countries for their neutrality.

Swiss, Swedish and Finish geographical location, economic and military capabilities, and other aspects are totally different from Mongolia’s, and Mongolia doesn’t even have the military capability to defend itself from outside intrusion.

For Turkmenistan, it is a small country in Central Asia with a unique strategic location and giant gas resources. Following the collapse of the Soviet Union and since its dependence, the country actively worked to strengthen its state of permanent neutrality. The United Nations Security Council adopted a resolution for Turkmenistan’s state of permanent neutrality in December 12, 1995.

The reason why Turkmenistan has a permanent neutrality status is related to their export of gas to Europe, as well as its effort to reduce Russian influence in the country and prevent an unexpected threat to its security from abroad.

Turkmenistan shares border with Afghanistan, which has been bogged down by prolonged wars since the late 1970s, and has serious threats from terrorist groups within its nation in the southeast; Iran pursuing a nuclear program in the south and southwest; Caspian Sea having giant oil and natural gas resources to the west; and Uzbekistan, which has a strong military capacity in Central Asia, experienced some terrorist attacks and drug trafficking between the late 1990s and early 2000s to the north and east. This unique location prompted Turkmenistan to adopt a permanent neutrality status to prevent unexpected threats to its national security from its neighbor countries by tightening its border control.

During the Vietnam War between 1950s and 1970s, Laos and Cambodia sought permanent neutrality to prevent the basing of United States military forces in these territories.

For Mongolia, seeking a state of permanent neutrality is ineffective as the country does not have the same conditions of developed countries in Europe and Central Asia’s Turkmenistan. Disputes between world’s leading countries on the Syrian civil war and Crimea Peninsula led former President Ts.Elbegdorj to seek a state of permanent neutrality. Another reasons for it is due to the unlikely event that a conflict rises between Russia and China. But Mongolia’s two giant neighbors are enjoying a more friendly relations than at any point in history.

Should relations between China and Russia sour and a conflict occurs, Mongolia will definitely choose to be neutral. That is why we don’t need this initiative.

Despite the abolishment of the death penalty by former President Ts.Elbegdorj, the current president wants to reinstate the death penalty. Likewise, should current President Kh.Battulga and Parliament decide to reject permanent neutrality as it serves no practical purpose, it would have positive impact on regional cooperation projects.