Mongolia-UN Relations: From Peacekeeping to a Role in Shaping Global Policy www.montsame.mn

The United Nations (UN) was established in 1945, following the Second World War, to maintain international peace and security and promote cooperation among countries. Today, it is one of the world's principal international organisations, with 193 Member States.

One of the UN's most notable features is that each country has one vote in the General Assembly, while the five permanent members of the Security Council – the United States, Russia, China, the United Kingdom, and France – each hold the special right of veto. This illustrates the contrast between the principle of sovereign equality among states and the realities of power distribution among major global actors.

The UN is not a world government and does not have its own standing army; military and police personnel serving in peacekeeping operations are contributed by Member States. Whether the organisation's decisions are implemented depends largely on their legal nature, cooperation among Member States, and prevailing political circumstances.

The UN headquarters is located in New York City, United States. The organisation has six official languages: Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, and Spanish. The world map and olive branches on the UN flag symbolise global cooperation and peace.

The UN was established with 51 Member States and has since expanded to 193, reflecting major changes in world politics, including the end of colonialism and the emergence of newly independent states. Thus, the UN serves not only as a forum for discussing international issues but also as an important mechanism through which countries, large and small, can express their positions and contribute collectively to global peace and security.

Relations between Mongolia and the UN are expected to extend beyond traditional diplomatic cooperation, encompassing international security, climate change, the interests of landlocked developing countries, human rights, and regional cooperation. Since joining the UN in 1961, Mongolia has regarded the organisation as an important partner in advancing its national interests at the international level and strengthening its foreign-policy autonomy.

Recent initiatives indicate that Mongolia seeks to move beyond simply supporting international decisions and to participate more actively in initiating discussions and developing collective solutions to specific issues. One of the most noteworthy future directions in Mongolia-UN relations is Mongolia's ambition to be elected as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council. Speaking during the General Debate of the Eighty-First Session of the UN General Assembly on September 23, 2026, President of Mongolia Khurelsukh Ukhnaa officially announced that Mongolia was putting itself forward as a candidate for non-permanent membership of the Security Council for the 2048–2049 term.

This is not a goal that can be achieved in the immediate future, but rather one that requires long-term diplomatic preparation. If elected, Mongolia would have greater opportunities to participate directly in discussions on international peace and security and articulate its positions. However, its election would depend on the votes of UN Member States, diplomatic relations, and competition with other candidates.

The second important direction is bringing Mongolia's participation in peacekeeping operations to a new level. Mongolian military personnel have gained extensive experience in international operations, including protecting civilians and supporting the delivery of humanitarian assistance. Information published on the official UN Peacekeeping website in August 2026 highlighted the involvement of Mongolian peacekeepers in protecting civilians affected by floods and delivering assistance in South Sudan.

Going forward, Mongolia is expected to focus not only on deploying military personnel for peacekeeping operations, but also on increasing the participation of women peacekeepers and strengthening training and professional capacity. In this connection, Mongolia has announced plans to host the Second International Conference of Women Peacekeepers in Ulaanbaatar in 2027.

The third direction focuses on international cooperation to combat climate change, desertification, and land degradation. In August 2026, Mongolia hosted the Seventeenth Session of the Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) in Ulaanbaatar. This milestone event brought issues such as desertification, rangeland degradation, and water scarcity in Mongolia to the forefront of global policymaking while expanding opportunities for financing, technology transfer, and the exchange of experience.

The key challenge going forward is to translate commitments and agreements made at international meetings into concrete projects, investment, and environmental outcomes. In this regard, Mongolia has opportunities to expand cooperation with the UN in reducing desertification, improving sustainable rangeland management, and developing renewable energy.

The fourth direction involves diplomatic efforts to protect the interests of landlocked developing countries. Owing to its geographical location, Mongolia depends on the territories, transport infrastructure, and transit routes of other countries to access international markets. Consequently, transport and logistics costs, cross-border trade, and transit arrangements have a direct impact on economic development. In 2024, the UN General Assembly adopted the Awaza Programme of Action for Landlocked Developing Countries for the Decade 2024–2034. In 2026, Mongolia discussed preparations for a national implementation plan for the programme in cooperation with the UN and other partners.

Going forward, Mongolia could leverage this programme to improve regional transport connectivity, facilitate trade, diversify its economy, and strengthen its collective position alongside other landlocked nations.

The fifth direction centers on cooperation in human rights, governance, and social development. The UN has long supported Mongolia in human development, inclusive economic growth, the rule of law, and human rights. The United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework for 2023–2027 aligns these priorities with Mongolia's national development policies.

In early October 2026, Mongolian representatives articulated the country's positions on policies and reforms concerning human rights and inclusive social development at the Third Committee of the Eighty-First Session of the UN General Assembly. In addition, Mongolia's mission reported that, during the May 2026 visit of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, the parties agreed to cooperate toward establishing a regional human rights training and research centre in Ulaanbaatar.

If implemented, this initiative could enable Mongolia to play a more active role in regional cooperation concerning human rights awareness, professional training, and research.

The sixth direction involves strengthening Mongolia's nuclear-weapon-free status and regional security policy. Mongolia has consistently affirmed its status as a nuclear-weapon-free state at the international level and sought to link this status with broader international security policies. The UN General Assembly regularly addresses this issue and, in December 2024, adopted without a vote a resolution concerning Mongolia's international security and nuclear-weapon-free status.

Going forward, Mongolia could use the UN and other multilateral mechanisms to advance nuclear non-proliferation, disarmament, and regional confidence-building. In particular, expanding security dialogue in Northeast Asia remains an important priority that aligns with Mongolia's third-neighbour policy and multilateral diplomacy.

These trends indicate that the future of Mongolia-UN relations cannot be measured solely by the number of projects and programmes or the volume of financial assistance received. Instead, the relationship should be assessed in terms of Mongolia's ability to take initiatives on international issues, build common positions with other countries, expand its diplomatic influence, and translate international commitments into tangible domestic results.

Mongolia's ambition to secure non-permanent membership of the Security Council for the 2048–2049 term, the international conference of women peacekeepers planned for 2027, the implementation of the Awaza Programme of Action, and active cooperation on climate change serve as concrete examples of this trajectory.

In the coming years, Mongolia's main challenge will be connecting the initiatives it advances on the international stage with sustainable financing, skilled human resources, regional partnerships, and effective domestic policy implementation. If these elements can be successfully aligned, the UN will remain much more than just an international organisation for Mongolia: it will continue to serve as a key strategic partner in safeguarding national interests, contributing to global solutions, and enabling Mongolia, as a small state, to successfully pursue an independent foreign policy in practice.

Elberel E., Researcher

Division of Regional and Multilateral Cooperation Studies, Institute of International Studies

Mongolian Academy of Sciences

Belarusian President Welcomes President of Mongolia Khurelsukh Ukhnaa www.montsame.mn

President of Mongolia Khurelsukh Ukhnaa is paying a State Visit to the Republic of Belarus at the invitation of President Alexander Lukashenko, marking the first-ever State Visit by the Head of State of Mongolia to the country.

President Khurelsukh was officially welcomed by President Lukashenko at the Palace of Independence in Minsk, where an official ceremony took place featuring the playing of both national anthems, a salute from the Commander of the Honor Guard, and introductions of the official delegations.

Mongolia and Belarus established diplomatic ties on Jan. 24, 1992. Mongolia opened its embassy in Minsk on May 24, 2020. Ambassador Baigalmaa Gunaajav presenting her credentials to President Lukashenko on July 28, 2026. Belarus opened its embassy in Ulaanbaatar on June 30, 2014, with Ambassador Mikhail Orda presenting credentials to President Khurelsukh on June 5, 2026.

President Lukashenko paid the State Visit to Mongolia on June 1–4, 2024. That visit yielded 12 bilateral agreements, including the "Treaty on Friendly Relations and Cooperation" and the "Roadmap for Cooperation (2024–2026)."

The Palace of Independence serves as Belarus's primary venue for high-level state ceremonies, official visits, and diplomatic functions. Regarded as a cultural landmark, parts of the complex remain open to visitors during designated times.

Damage From Numrug Strictly Protected Area Assessment Continues www.montsame.mn

 A working group and team of experts are still assessing the environmental damage caused by the fire that burned 528,800 hectares in and around the Numrug Strictly Protected Area (SPA) in Khalkhgol soum, Dornod aimag, earlier this month. According to Japan’s KDDI Corporation, the fire broke out on October 8, when smoke was seen coming from beneath a vehicle belonging to its Mongolian subsidiary, Mobicom Corporation, whose staff were traveling through the protected area.

KDDI said the Mobicom team had visited the area from October 6 to 8 at the request of border authorities, to attend the opening of a telecommunications network built by the company and to test 4G coverage. The team was traveling under a border guard permit, in a convoy led and followed by authority vehicles. When smoke appeared, staff tried to put out the fire on the instructions of the border authorities, but it spread to the surrounding grassland. On October 23, KDDI apologized, saying it takes the incident “extremely seriously” and will fully cooperate with the investigation and support the environment’s recovery. Mongolian authorities are still investigating what caused the fire and why it spread.

The fire was fully extinguished on October 16. About 469,000 hectares of the burned area lie within the protected area.

Sandag-Ochir Tsend, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, and Batbayar Sh., State Secretary of the Ministry, received Masaru Igawahara, Ambassador of Japan to Mongolia, Yasuhiro Ochi, Chief Executive Officer of Mobicom Corporation, and other officials on October 26th.

At the start of the meeting, Ambassador Igawahara expressed his regret over the extensive damage the fire had caused to Mongolia’s environment and ecosystem. He said the Government of Japan is ready to work with Mongolia and provide full support to restore the area and protect its ecosystem. He added that Japan would like to send specialists in nature conservation and restoration to work in the burned area and exchange experience with Mongolian experts.

Ochi expressed his sincere regret for the damage to the environment and apologized to the people of Mongolia. He thanked all the personnel and officials who took part in fighting the fire and said Mobicom would cooperate in the ongoing investigation and in efforts to protect and restore the environment.

Sandag-Ochir noted that the Numrug SPA had preserved Mongolia’s pristine nature, with a unique ecosystem that is home to very rare plants and animals. He expressed regret that irresponsible human actions had caused extensive damage to this globally rare and ecologically valuable area. He said efforts to protect and restore the environment and to prevent such risks in the future must be stepped up with the involvement of all stakeholders. He also stressed that Japan’s experience and professional support would be important in accurately determining the damage and carrying out restoration that is scientifically grounded and effective.

In light of the incident, the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change and the Governor’s Office of Khalkhgol soum formed a working group to assess the damage to the area. The group is surveying burned areas near the birch forests of Khanchandmani Mountain, the pine forests of Khotol Lake and Ar Sumiin Khooloi, and the areas along the Numrug and Degee rivers. However, according to the Ministry, some forest areas in the eastern part of the SPA remain out of reach. Swamps, waterlogged hollows, numerous small streams and deep ravines make them impassable by vehicles or horses.

Driving across burned land also damages vehicle tires and burdens movement. Officials say this makes it difficult to fully determine the size of the burned area, the extent of forest damage, how the fire spread, its effect on wildlife movement and habitats, and the damage to soil and vegetation in the forests near the state border. The working group and expert team have therefore asked the State Emergency Commission and the General Authority for Border Protection to provide helicopters so the damage can be assessed completely and objectively. 

Helicopters would allow aerial monitoring and photo documentation of areas that cannot be reached on the ground, measurement of the burned area and the level of damage, and assessment of the impact on wildlife habitats and on soil and vegetation. This would help determine the damage more precisely and support restoration planning.

The Government aims to accurately determine the ecological and economic damage and restore the affected areas.

Mongolia-Belarus Business Forum Produces 17 Deals Worth USD 50 Million www.montsame.mn

The Mongolia-Belarus Business Forum was held in Minsk on October 26 as part of the President of Mongolia Khurelsukh Ukhnaa’s State Visit to the Republic of Belarus.

The forum brought together representatives of government institutions, the private sector, businesses, and the chambers of commerce and industry of the two countries to discuss opportunities to expand trade, economic and investment cooperation and strengthen direct business ties and partnerships.

The forum was opened by Belarusian Minister of Industry Andrei Kuznetsov, Mongolian Minister of Food, Agriculture and Light Industry Iderbat Tsagaankhuu, Chairman of the Belarusian Chamber of Commerce and Industry Mikhail Myatlikov, and President of the Mongolian National Chamber of Commerce and Industry Lkhagvajav Baatarjav.

Presentations covered the business and investment environments of the two countries, opportunities for economic cooperation, and development prospects in industry, agriculture, transport and logistics, and light manufacturing. Participants also exchanged views on opportunities to implement joint projects and programs.

Business-to-business meetings were held alongside the forum, allowing companies to explore new partnerships and mutually beneficial initiatives in trade, investment and manufacturing.

During the forum, companies and organizations from Mongolia and Belarus signed 17 agreements and memorandums of understanding worth a total of USD 50 million. The documents cover railway transportation, construction, agricultural machinery, food and dairy products, textiles, and other areas of cooperation.

The 17 documents are as follows:

Taliin Khishig Trans LLC (Mongolia) and Mogilev Railway Carriage Works LLC (Belarus): A trade agreement.
Agdealer LLC (Mongolia) and AMKODOR JSC (Belarus): A dealer agreement.
Agdealer LLC (Mongolia) and Gomselmash JSC (Belarus): A memorandum of understanding.
Mongolian Builders Association and Belarusian Builders Association: A memorandum of understanding.
Shine Tsonkh Standard LLC (Mongolia) and Liderstroy Grad LLC (Belarus): A memorandum of understanding.
Khanbogd Cashmere LLC (Mongolia) and Kamvol LLC (Belarus): A memorandum of understanding.
Vitafit LLC (Mongolia) and Belgospishcheprom (Belarus): A memorandum of understanding.
Vitafit LLC (Mongolia) and Zhabinka Sugar Plant OJSC (Belarus): An agreement.
Vitafit LLC (Mongolia) and Minsk Dairy Plant No. 1 OJSC (Belarus): A trade agreement.
Vitafit LLC (Mongolia) and Gorodeya Sugar Refinery OJSC (Belarus): A trade agreement.
Vitafit LLC (Mongolia) and ABC Company (Belarus): A memorandum of understanding.
Vitafit LLC (Mongolia) and ABC Company (Belarus): A trade agreement.
Minsk Belarus Trade Center LLC (Mongolia) and Babushkina Krynka OJSC (Belarus): A memorandum of understanding.
Tulgasaihan LLC (Mongolia) and Santa Bremor LLC (Belarus): An addendum extending the term of an existing agreement.
Jessica Energy LLC (Mongolia) and Energokomplekt LLC (Belarus): A memorandum of understanding.
Mongolian Wool and Cashmere Association and Kamvol LLC (Belarus): A memorandum of understanding.
Neheesgui Edlel JSC (Mongolia) and Kamvol LLC (Belarus): A memorandum of understanding.

Bangladesh to send first batch of 12 workers to Mongolia Nov 1 www.thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Bangladesh is set to send its first batch of workers to Mongolia on November 1, as the government seeks to explore new overseas employment destinations beyond traditional labour markets.Bangladesh Economic Report

The workers will be sent through Bangladesh Overseas Employment and Services Limited (BOESL), a state-owned entity under the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment.

"Initially, we are going to send a total of 12 male workers to Mongolia on November 1 to work in different sectors. They will go to Mongolia at zero migration cost," Managing Director (MD) of BOESL Mohammad Rashedul Haque told the FE at his office on Sunday.

The workers will be employed in warehouses and as support staff at markets and shopping malls, he said.

"Each worker will receive a monthly salary of US $400, along with $4 a day for meals. The Mongolian company will provide accommodation for Bangladeshi workers free of cost," he said.

Mr Haque said initially the workers will serve a three-month probationary period, during which they would receive their monthly salaries and other benefits.

Their employment contracts will be for two years, with the possibility of renewal. The contracts may be extended if the workers demonstrate satisfactory performance, he said.

He added that another 18 workers were preparing to travel to Mongolia for employment soon. A private organisation in Mongolia is recruiting Bangladeshi manpower.

The BOESL MD said the Bangladesh embassy in Beijing played a key role in facilitating the recruitment of Bangladeshi workers.

Explaining the selection process, he said BOESL had published an advertisement in response to a manpower demand from the Mongolian company, attracting several hundred applicants from across Bangladesh.

"They were interviewed online by the Mongolian company officials in the presence of BOESL officials. After 12 persons were selected, the BOESL provided them with training," he maintained.

The workers are aged between 20 and 30, with educational qualifications ranging from the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) to a master's degree, Mr Haque said, adding that they are capable of speaking communicative English.

He said the recruiting company will bear the expenses of medical treatment of the Bangladeshi workers if any of them falls sick.

The   economy of Mongolia has historically been based on herding and agriculture, but mining has become the dominant sector of the economy.Economic Forecast Report

The country's (Mongolia) economy is expanding in different sectors, testifying the need to import overseas manpower (skilled and unskilled) for fulfilling the requirement of workforce in different sectors of the country.

Mongolia possesses major deposits of copper, coal, gold, molybdenum and other minerals, which account for much of the country's industrial output and exports.

Following the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1990-91 and the end of Soviet aid, Mongolia entered a severe recession during its transition from a planned economy to market economy.

Mongolia joined the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in 1997.

From the 2000s onward, rapid expansion of the mining sector drove strong   economic growth.

Bangladesh and Mongolia have expanded bilateral cooperation to facilitate the export of skilled and semi-skilled Bangladeshi manpower.

The MD of BOESL said Mongolia actively seeks workforce collaboration from Bangladesh across several key industries.

Sector insiders said that if Bangladesh sets up its embassy in Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia, bilateral trade and mutual cooperation and sending more manpower from Bangladesh will be possible.

There are huge manpower demand in construction and infrastructure sectors like builders, engineers, road and highway workers, and railway development personnel, farm workers, agricultural specialists, and livestock support, ready -made Garments (RMG) and textiles in Mongolia.

There are also demands for doctors, nurses, and information technology (IT) or technical engineers in Mongolia.

More than 15 million Bangladeshi workers are currently employed in 176 countries worldwide.

The country has received a record USD 35.56 billion in remittances during the 2025-26 fiscal year, according to data from Bangladesh  Bank.Bangladesh Economic Report

The inflow marks a significant increase from the USD 30.33 billion received in the previous fiscal year, 2024-25.

The strong growth in remittance earnings highlights the continued contribution of Bangladeshi expatriates to the national economy.

talhabinhabib@yahoo.com

Mongolian Ambassador Presents Credentials to King Charles III www.montsame.mn

Munkhjin Batsumber, Ambassador of Mongolia to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, presented his Letters of Credence to King Charles III on October 22.

Ambassador Munkhjin conveyed President Khurelsukh Ukhnaa's greetings to the King and expressed his commitment to further strengthening bilateral relations and cooperation with the United Kingdom, an important partner in Mongolia's “third neighbor” policy. He highlighted the two countries' shared values, including democracy, human rights, and the rule of law.

King Charles III, in turn, conveyed his warm greetings to President Khurelsukh and extended his best wishes to the people of Mongolia, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported.

Japan Govt Says It Takes Mongolia Wildfire Seriously www.jen.jiji.com

The Japanese government takes seriously a massive grassland fire that broke out earlier this month in a nature reserve in Mongolia, Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara said Monday.
   "We take the extent of the damage seriously. We'd like to express our heartfelt sympathy to the people of Mongolia," Kihara told a press conference.
   The fire erupted while a convoy of vehicles carrying Japanese executives and other officials of Mobicom Corp., a unit of Japanese telecommunications carrier KDDI Corp., was traveling through the protected area in the eastern Mongolian province of Dornod.
   Noting that Mongolian authorities are investigating the cause of the fire, Kihara said that the Japanese government will "cooperate to restore the affected areas."

Mongolia to Consider Seeking Compensation over Grassland Fire www.nippon.com

The Mongolian government plans to consider seeking compensation over a recent large-scale grassland fire in the country after identifying those responsible for the blaze, according to media outlets including the country's national broadcaster.

The plan was shown at a meeting of the Mongolian cabinet. Mongolian Deputy Prime Minister Nyamtaishiryn Nomtoibayar was quoted as saying that words of apology are not enough.

The fire on the grassland including a nature reserve in the eastern Mongolian province of Dornod occurred earlier this month while a convoy of vehicles carrying Japanese executives of Mobicom Corp., a Mongolian unit of Japanese telecommunications carrier KDDI Corp., was traveling across the area.

In a statement released Friday, KDDI offered an apology and said that the company will fully cooperate in Mongolian authorities' investigation into the grassland fire.

Meanwhile, KDDI said the company has confirmed that its employees did not violate Mongolian laws or regulations.

Mongolia’s tax and social insurance burden to be reduced by US$278.3 million next year www.asianews.network

The Parliament’s Standing Committee on State Structure has completed its third review of the 2027 draft state budget and submitted its recommendations to the Standing Committee on Budget.

To protect citizens’ real incomes and purchasing power, the draft budget proposes exempting monthly salary income of up to MNT 792,000 from taxation. It also includes plans to provide social insurance contribution relief for employees of startup businesses. These measures are expected to reduce the combined tax and social insurance contribution burden for more than one million citizens by a total of MNT 1 trillion.

In addition, MNT 887.1 billion has been allocated to increase the salaries of civil servants, including employees in public administration, public services, and special service sectors, starting in the second quarter of 2027. The planned increases are expected to benefit a total of 211,600 public sector employees.

At its meeting on October 21, 2026, the Standing Committee on State Structure also conducted the second reading of a draft law to amend the Fiscal Framework Statement and the budget projections for 2028–2029. The committee decided to forward its opinions and conclusions to the relevant standing committees.

48 brown bears killed www.ubpost.mn

48 brown bears have been killed across Mongolia as part of measures to manage human-bear encounters, with five of the animals killed in cases of necessary self-defense, according to the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change. Ministry officials provided an update on brown bear sightings and cases after 14 reports of bears entering residential areas were registered within 24 hours between October 19 and 20. One report was recorded in Ulaanbaatar City but turned out to be false, while the remaining 13 cases were reported across seven provinces, including Arkhangai, Bulgan and Uvs.

During the same 24-hour period, four bears that had approached residential areas and households were killed as part of efforts to ensure public safety. Two other bears were driven away from populated areas, while local emergency response teams were still searching for bears in connection with five additional reports. Bear sightings were also recorded at four locations within the Khan Khentii and Ulaan Taiga protected areas and Khan Khukhii Mountain National Park, highlighting the growing need to manage encounters between wildlife and communities.

According to the ministry, a total of 48 brown bears have been killed under measures implemented by local rapid-response teams to regulate bear populations and address safety risks. Of these, 16 were killed in Khuvsgul Province, 10 in Khentii, eight in Selenge, four in Uvs, three in Zavkhan, and two each in Darkhan-Uul and Tuv provinces. One bear was killed in each of Arkhangai and Bulgan provinces, as well as in Ulaanbaatar.

Of the 48 bears, 43 were killed under official permits, while the remaining five were killed in circumstances classified as necessary self-defense. Meanwhile, the ministry’s Department of Natural Resources Policy and Sustainable Use and the State Environmental Inspection Department held an online meeting on October 21 to discuss the management of brown bear populations and the procedures to be followed when bears are killed.

During the meeting, officials emphasized the need to comply with relevant laws and regulations. In cases where bears must be killed, samples should be collected for scientific research, while suitable materials may be preserved for cultural and educational purposes, including museum collections.

The remaining animal parts and organs must be disinfected and disposed of in accordance with the MNS 6406:2013 standard, approved regulations and established procedures. Officials also stressed the importance of documenting the process to ensure that all actions are properly recorded and accounted for. The ministry plans to consolidate the issues raised during the meeting and present them to a cabinet meeting for further consideration.