The army’s march towards modernization
When looking at the modernization of the military, it is crucial to examine the historical, foreign and domestic contributions of the army.
The Mongol army historically had its strengths and weaknesses just as the Greeks, Romans or Ottomans did. Due to the historical glories of the military, they were perceived as undefeatable. History on the net asks “How could a force of 100,000 mounted, lightly armored warriors armed with bows and arrows defeat nearly every other army that came against them?” Most of the Mongol’s oppositions outnumbered them by the hundreds of thousands.
The Mongol forces of the 13th century used a coalition of constantly adjusting new tactics, discipline, intelligence of warfare and training, which easily defeated the slower and heavier armies of the time. The Mongols have only lost a few battles and each time, they usually returned to fight another day, winning the second time around.
With half of the Mongols still living the nomadic life, the soldiers begun riding horses at an early age. Both the horses and the people are tough, agile and sturdy with great endurance. Throughout its ancient history, middle ages and most of modern history (1500 BC-present) Mongols start hunting as soon as they could hold a bow. The advanced archery of the soldiers and their bows made it possible for them to shoot in every direction, even behind. Herding animals and taming horses built up the physical stamina and strength that the soldiers need for battle.
A number of historical aspects have been significant to shaping the military principles, core values and social influences. The historical aspects link to the fundamental changes, progress, and sometimes regressions of Mongolian military affairs and military diplomacy.
At its height, the Mongol Empire stretched from Eastern Europe to Eastern Siberia and the Korean Peninsula. During this time, they have connected and bridged cultures, societies and ideologies throughout half of the world. This was the first step to modernizing. They had access to new goods and services, cultures, and new military equipment, tactics and strategies.
Starting from the mid modern era, Mongolia’s relationship with Russia became the main source of learning, technology, weapons and strategies. From Russia, Mongolia learned both positive and negative aspects of topdown military structure and military institutionalization. Their military ties grew stronger during Mongolia’s struggle against the Qing dominance in 1911, but improved significantly during World War II. This had turned into a codependent relationship as the Japanese invasion of Inner Mongolia and Manchuria allowed Stalinist Russia and Mongolia to strengthen their military ties while combating the Japanese expansion in East Asia.
Mongolian army supplied Russians with horses, wool, and furs during its winter wars. On the 72nd anniversary of Victory Day on May 7, 2017 the Russian government built a large bronze war horse monument commemorating the Mongolian war horses.
The National Center for Emergency and Disaster Relief (NCEDR) is an important part of the military. According to the government’s official reports, through the NCEDR serves as first-responders for earthquakes, wildfires and forest fires; contagious diseases; and the severe cold waves (dzuds). Their programs have produced humanitarian medics and the construction of engineers who build schools, hospitals and emergency centers throughout the country.
In addition to defense at home, the Mongolian military is also active abroad. The Mongolian foreign policy objectives are coupled with military diplomacy, which play a fundamental role in military relations with a number of countries. Mongolian historical and contemporary principles and core values are reflected through the country’s involvement in international missions and peacekeeping operations. Supporting, advocating, and actively contributing to world peace is also part of the military modernization process.
According to Colonel T.Narankhuu, Mongolia’s defense and military attache to the Embassy of Mongolia to Washington DC, “As of Now, Mongolia has military diplomacy with the US, Japan, Germany, and 30 other countries, and has a close military technology accord with Russia, China, Turkey, Ukraine and Belarus.”
The military has been involved in coalition counterterrorism efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan. In 2006, Mongolia became the first country to host a multinational military training in the Northeast Asia region. Despite all joint military exercises and drills, semi modern gadgetry, and contributions to peacekeeping missions, there are still a number of barriers to the Mongolian military.
For instance, when it comes to UN peacekeeping missions, there are alternative institutional preferences for crisis management due to how Mongolia is a minor power. Mongolia participates in UN-mandated operations led by coalitions. This is due to the inability to project military force independently.
Perhaps the biggest barriers to Mongolia’s contribution to peacekeeping missions have to do with alternative political and strategic priorities. There are no pressing military threats to Mongolia right now, so a portion of the military is contributed to international missions. As of now, there are no alternative political and strategic priorities for the Mongolian military.
However, Mongolia faces much pressure from its two neighbors when conducting military exercises.
This has definite impacts on the country’s peacekeeping-related decisions. China has been critical and suspicious about US-Mongolian militaryto-military relations, even though the scale and intensity of such interactions are low. The peacekeeping exercises and deployments of US military and equipment in Mongolia are perceived by Beijing as a US military containment strategy.
When it comes to Russia, they are not concerned about the US military interactions in Mongolia, but Moscow has exerted pressure on Mongolia to withdraw from missions that it does not approve of such as ones in Iraq. Russia has previously persuaded Mongolia to change its decision to deploy alongside French forces in Lebanon. Interestingly, this came only 14 days before the deployment.
Russia has also blocked Mongolian training exercises by refusing to permit over-flights to the Turkish military when it was bringing a contingent for bilateral exercises in Mongolia. Both these policy reversals came immediately after a prime ministerial visit to Moscow, which suggests that the influence was exerted directly and personally at the highest levels.
Still, Mongolia helps protect women and children from armed militias through its operations in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). Mongolia ranks 20th out of 123 countries with peacekeepers operating in MENA countries. The peacekeepers in MENA have been noticed by the international community and more than 850 Mongolian peacekeepers stationed in South Sudan were awarded the UN Medal in May 2017.
Some of their notable achievements there include Srg. T.Buyanzul and O.Tsend-Ayush saving a two-yearold Sudanese boy from a war zone. Following this case, armed men made an attempt to break into the refugee camps and were caught by Mongolian peacekeepers. Cases as such serve as examples to illustrate the modernization of Mongolia’s military as a whole and its contributions to global peace.
Lieutenant Mark Larson from the 10th Division in Kabul said, “The Mongolians, for certain, provide the most extraordinary example of international support. That Mongolia -- a landlocked country of just three million people, nearly half of whom still lead a nomadic life -- provides any aid at all to international force is remarkable.”
...A number of historical aspects have been significant to shaping the military principles, core values and social influences. The historical aspects link to the fundamental changes, progress, and sometimes regressions of Mongolian military affairs and military
diplomacy...