Mongolia begins to see itself as a Central Asian country

In her book "Mongolia's Foreign Policy: Navigating a Changing World," renowned American Mongolian scholar Alicia Campi describes two competing schools of thought. One view holds that Mongolia is a Central Asian country, closely tied to its steppe traditions and sharing a common Soviet history with the newly independent countries in the region. Another perspective sees Mongolia as part of Northeast Asia, eager to establish connections with dynamic modern economies such as South Korea and Japan. In the following years, Mongolia has placed greater emphasis on Northeast Asia, prioritizing economic development.

Mongolia positions itself as a bridge country, connecting various regions, ideologies, and cultures across Eurasia. In this context, Mongolia's renewed engagement with Central Asia has become increasingly notable - not only as a strategic pivot but also as a reconnection of cultural and historical ties. Since 2023, Mongolia has actively deepened its political relations with Central Asian countries at an unprecedented pace within the framework of its "Third Neighbour" policy.

In July 2023, President Sadyr Japarov of Kyrgyzstan made a state visit to Mongolia. Subsequently, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev of Kazakhstan (October 2024), President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov of Turkmenistan (June 2025), and President Shavkat Mirziyoyev of Uzbekistan (June 2025) each visited Mongolia. President Ukhnaa Khurelsukh of Mongolia visited Tashkent in June 2024 and attended the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit held in Astana in July 2024, while also making a state visit to Ashgabat in October 2024.

These visits reflect a clear shift: Central Asia is becoming a strategic pillar of Mongolia's multidimensional foreign policy. Some scholars have called this shift "returning to Central Asia" - a transformation driven both by pragmatic interests and long-term strategic goals. For Mongolia, building closer relations with Central Asia offers numerous advantages: expanding its circle of political allies, enriching trade routes and business partnerships, and strengthening cultural and historical ties with the Central Asian steppes.

Mongolia's active engagement with Central Asia reflects a deeper strategic shift. The country is increasingly positioning itself as a "two-region country," bridging Central Asia and Northeast Asia across the vast Eurasian continent.

According to unofficial sources, Mongolia may once again revise its foreign policy concept. If this happens, how to define Central Asia within the new strategic framework will become a matter of great interest.

Mongolia's shift towards Central Asia is more than a series of state visits or trade agreements - it is a strategic adjustment reflecting deeper changes in the world and Mongolia itself. Mongolia is a democratic landlocked country located between major powers, and its ability to adapt and build cross-regional connections is likely to determine its role in the geopolitical landscape of the 21st century.

Sources: The Diplomat

Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1836666827513856/

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