Canadian ambassador-designate to #Mongolia announced: Sandra Choufani.
https://www.canada.ca/en/global-affairs/news/2023/08/biographical-notes.html

#MGLfp

At #IntlAssocMongolStudies congress, Inner Mongolian scholar asked by Taiwanese scholar, "a) what's greatest challenge in Sino-Mongolian relations, and b) what's the state of BRI projects in #Mongolia

Predictable, no answer to a). On b), "read my 2014 (!) article!". Also quite telling.

#MGLfp @mongoliastudies

@prachisrivas @w7voa

Piece that seems to be missing from article is Mongolia's potential for alternative energy, esp. solar.

Financing for construction of capably grid an area that U.S. could definitely be involved in.

#MGLfp @mongoliastudies

"#UlaanbaatarDeclaration" by six female foreign ministers (🇫🇷 🇩🇪 🇮🇩 🇱🇮 🇲🇳 🇿🇦 ) includes recommitment to Women Peace & Security agenda, and to "undertake concerted efforts to integrate gender into #peacekeeping operations, ensure women’s equal and meaningful participation in peacemaking, peacekeeping and peacebuilding"

https://mfa.gov.mn/en/outcome-document-of-the-female-foreign-ministers-meeting-ulaanbaatar-declaration/

#MGLfp #WPS @mongoliastudies

Frau Baerbock auf dem Weg zum Aussenministerinnnentreffen in der #Mongolei

https://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/de/newsroom/baerbock-mongolei/2605056

Hintergründe zur "unglaublich herausfordernden geographischen Lage" der Mongolei was die internationalen Beziehungen angeht: https://blogs.ubc.ca/mongolia/category/mongolia-and/

#MGLfp @mongoliastudies

Lots of articles abt Tibetan Buddhist reincarnations identified in #Mongolia in some big English-language media outlets, in fact more than we might expect for, say a change of government, but happy for the interest in Mongolia.

I weigh in on the implications of clerical decisions for Sino-Mongolian relations on NPR's Weekend Edition.

https://www.npr.org/2023/04/01/1167587452/a-mongolian-boy-has-been-declared-an-important-leader-for-tibetan-buddhists

#MGLpoli #MGLfp @mongoliastudies

Spoke to NPR's Scott Simon (Weekend Edition) about repercussions of identification of incarnation of #Mongolia-n Buddhist leader for 🇲🇳-🇨🇳 relations.

https://www.npr.org/2023/04/01/1167587452/a-mongolian-boy-has-been-declared-an-important-leader-for-tibetan-buddhists (so far: text; audio later today)

#MGLfp @mongoliastudies

Interviewed by NPR's Scott Simon about announcement of reincarnation of Jetsundamba Khutukhtu and in particular implications for Sino-#Mongolia-n relations. To air on "Weekend Edition".

#MGLfp #MGLpoli @mongoliastudies

Interviewed by NPR's Scott Simon about announcement of reincarnation of Jetsundamba Khutukhtu. To air on "Weekend Edition" and particularly implications for Sino-#Mongolia-n relations.

#MGLfp #MGLpoli @mongoliastudies

Ulaanbaatar has served as location for DPRK-Japan talks in the past, I thought it would've made great site for DPRK-US #SteppeSummit. Now, Tuvshinzaya G makes case for #Mongolia to host Russia-Ukraine talks.

https://thediplomat.com/2023/03/the-war-in-ukraine-could-formally-end-in-mongolia/

Certainly more plausible than China hosting. Selensky lived in Erdenet as a child, Russians - if anything - sometimes seem too comfortable in Ulaanbaatar.

#MGLfp @mongoliastudies

Can't say that I find the idea of a Russian-Mongolian business forum particularly appealing at a time that many nations, incl. many of #Mongolia's 'third neighbours' have placed Russia under economic sanctions...

Mongolia-Russia Business Forum Held in Ulaanbaatar https://montsame.mn/en/read/315363

#MGLfp @mongoliastudies

St Brown (prof, UOttawa) has analyzed Canadian foreign aid to #Mongolia

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/epdf/10.1080/02255189.2023.2184330

Thru his careful analysis, Brown concludes that, "failed partnership with 🇲🇳 highlights disappointments that can arise when donors place own priorities over needs of poor people in developing countries & dilute poverty-fighting missions w/ commercial self-interest."

#CDNfp #MGLfp #MGLpoli @mongoliastudies

#Mongolia-n PM Oyun-Erdene visited S Korea in Feb. Lkh Bolor describes focus on econ relations, incl mineral extraction.

https://thediplomat.com/2023/03/mongolia-and-south-korea-emphasize-deeper-economic-ties/

#MGLfp @mongoliastudies

ICYMI: Last month I summarized political/economic events in #Mongolia in 2022 for East Asia Forum.

https://www.eastasiaforum.org/2023/01/25/mongolian-government-under-pressure-as-its-foreign-policy-options-are-squeezed-by-russias-invasion-of-ukraine/

#MGLpoli #MGLfp @mongoliastudies

🇦🇺 Lowy Institute has released Power in Asia Index.

#Mongolia remains "minor power in Asia", rank 24/26, little change in scores.

https://power.lowyinstitute.org/countries/mongolia/

Slightly 📈: defence & cult influence
📉: econ & mil & esp. dipl influence

My updated 🇲🇳Scorecard compiling various global indices: https://blogs.ubc.ca/mongolia/mongolia-scorecard/

#MGLfp @mongoliastudies

In opinion piece for Nikkei Asia, @marissa_j_smith writes abt risk of #Mongolia being isolated b/w CHN & RUS.

"Without substantive reengagement from other states, and international, corporate and financial institutions, there is a real danger that Mongolia could slip away from the global community, risking a reprise of the long period of the 20th century when it was effectively tucked behind a corner of the Soviet Union's Iron Curtain."

https://asia.nikkei.com/Opinion/Mongolia-needs-to-be-reconnected-to-the-outside-world

#MGLfp @mongoliastudies

Despite ongoing and largely successful efforts to balance RUS & CHN for constructive relations w/ both, #Mongolia is facing challenging security environment.

Lkh Bolor writes abt defense spending in The Diplomat.

https://thediplomat.com/2023/02/how-mongolia-is-navigating-a-changing-security-environment/

"In 2020 & 2021,🇲🇳 approved defense budget of 283b MNT. In 2022, budget 📈 to 296b MNT. In Dec 2022, govt approved 312b MNT (roughly $91.5m) for Ministry of Defense’s 2023 budget, an increase of 5.4% from the previous year."

#MGLfp @mongoliastudies

FT article on impact of intl sanctions against Russia on #Mongolia
https://www.ft.com/content/21a51801-6bc6-4fda-a38d-0653605c0d88

PM Oyun-Erdene somehow sounds like he's complaining abt impact here. Case for that complaint seems unclear to me in context of intl sanctions.

#MGLfp

Politics, protests and geopolitical pressures on #Mongolia, I provide an overview in the Worlds Politics Review.

https://www.worldpoliticsreview.com/mongolia-politics-economy-china-relations-russia/?share-code=7sQeet9i2hoh

#MGLpoli #MGLfp @mongoliastudies

What does it mean that Chinese regime claims a "steel friendship" (钢铁般的友谊) with #Mongolia?

New and first-ever anonymous post to #Mongolia Focus reviewing Sino-Mongolian relations.

https://blogs.ubc.ca/mongolia/2023/guest-post-china-mongolia-relations-steel-friendship/

#MGLfp
@mongoliastudies
@china