Mongolia under pressure to align with Russia and China

[Abramelin]

Mongolia, a squeezed outpost of democracy in north-east Asia, is under renewed pressure from its authoritarian neighbours, Russia and China, to shed its independence and form a triangle of anti-western cooperation in the wake of the war in Ukraine.

The country is doggedly pursuing a path of neutrality, coupled with a policy of economic diversification designed to keep its unique culture and still relatively recent independence alive, according to Nomin Chinbat, its culture secretary.

A Soviet satellite state until 1990, and heavily dependent on China as a market and conduit for its copper and coal exports, Mongolia has to tread carefully. It is three times the size of France but has a population of only 3.5 million, half of whom live in the capital, Ulaanbaatar.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/may/31/mongolia-under-pressure-to-align-with-russia-and-china

Edited August 19, 2022 by Abramelin

[spartan max2]

Damn. I do not envy their position.

 

[Abramelin]

19 minutes ago, spartan max2 said:

Damn. I do not envy their position.

 

I somehow expect 'something' to happen overthere.

No, not the rise of an up to date version of the 'Mongolian Hordes'. Alas.

https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/mongol-horde-unstoppable-force

Edited August 19, 2022 by Abramelin

[jethrofloyd]

It is wiser for the Chinese and Russians not to anger Genghis Khan's successors, otherwise they could have a big problems.

[Tatetopa]

38 minutes ago, Abramelin said:

No, not the rise of an up to date version of the 'Mongolian Hordes'. Alas.

I would not write that off just yet.

 

[Abramelin]

https://thediplomat.com/2022/08/the-war-in-ukraine-lessons-for-mongolia/

"Mongolia had sent humanitarian assistance to Ukraine and did abstain from voting on a U.N. resolution demanding the withdrawal of Russian troops (rather than voting against the resolution). Although these measures are not enough by any means, they are significant considering the fact that Russia has almost total control of Mongolia’s energy supply and has been relentlessly pressuring Mongolia to support its war."

[spartan max2]

1 hour ago, Abramelin said:

https://thediplomat.com/2022/08/the-war-in-ukraine-lessons-for-mongolia/

"Mongolia had sent humanitarian assistance to Ukraine and did abstain from voting on a U.N. resolution demanding the withdrawal of Russian troops (rather than voting against the resolution). Although these measures are not enough by any means, they are significant considering the fact that Russia has almost total control of Mongolia’s energy supply and has been relentlessly pressuring Mongolia to support its war."

They have a hard balancing act to do

[+and-then]

Considering their geography, I can see why Mongolians would see themselves in the Ukraine situation.  Anyone who ignores the potential of Russian or Chinese aggression against their people is just begging for trouble.