Mongolia becoming a permanent neutral nation? Focusing on the debate and challenges of the permanent neutral nation policy

Abstract

Mongolia found itself increasingly under pressure to back Russia over Ukraine and China in its disputes with Japan and in the South China Sea. In this emerging scenario, taking sides would be extremely costly for a small state. However, since September 2015, when Mongolian President Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj and his foreign policy team launched a campaign both domestically and abroad to institutionalize a ‘permanent neutrality’ status, foreign policy pundits in Ulaanbaatar had been intensively debating whether or not Mongolia should enact such a policy. But finally, on May 6, 2020, the Mongolian government decided that ‘Resolution No. 375 ratified in September 2015 will be nullified, and we will take measures not to promote Mongolia’s policies related to a permanent neutral nation’ through resolution No. 162. As the concern that Mongolia's promotion of the permanent neutral nation policy could eventually significantly reduce the flexibility of its multi-pillar foreign policy, the Mongolian government nullified its permanent neutral nation policy.