The Viyug

By Nidhi Choudhary

India-Mongolia relations date back to ancient times and are desirable in modern times, bilateral relations have been rapidly deepening through multi-level engagements. Both countries have been spiritual (ancient) neighbours which have now transformed into important strategic partners. The cooperation between India and Mongolia, which was previously limited to occasional diplomatic missions, is now rapidly expanding into more robust relations to close political and people-to-people bonds. The bilateral relationship between India and Mongolia has undergone a transformative journey from spiritual neighbours to strategic partners.

Historically linked by the shared cultural heritage (of Buddhism and Mughal Empires), the two nations have gradually deepened their ties, expanding from religious and cultural affinities to strategic cooperation. Mongolia is situated in the geographical heartland of Asia. It is well known for its rich natural resources and educated human resources in the Inner Asian region. Being located in a strategically important region and surrounded by global powers Russia and China, Mongolia remains an important country in India’s ‘Act East’ policy in the Central or Inner Asian region.

Emergence of Rest and Geostrategic Balance for Smaller Countries

A new age in World politics began in the twenty-first century with the ‘decline of the West and the rise of rest’. Countries like China and India from the ‘outside the West’became more significant in International politics. With that small countries (population in the case of Mongolia) like Mongolia are reassessing their foreign policies and diplomatic relations and seeking new close alliances with emerging global players like India in today’s convoluted international politics.

As a landlocked nation, Mongolia has been working hard to overcome its geographical disadvantage and become more open to the outside world beyond its immediate powerful neighbours. No wonder then that Mongolia’s foreign policy choices revolve around its geopolitical dilemma for advancing its external relations. A key challenge for Mongolia on the geopolitical front is ensuring the continuity of its democratic governance and values. Often being a small country embedded between two powerful countries affects the governing nature of the country.

So the core of this dilemma is to maintain a balance in its relations with the two immediate neighbours, while at the same time keeping up relations with the ‘third neighbours’ to balance the potential dominance of either of the two immediate neighbours. India as a great democratic country with historical cultural links here can prove to be a useful partner for Mongolia and with its unique geopolitical location it could be vice versa for India as well.

Geographical Dilemma and Opportunities for Mongolia