Countries like Mongolia, despite being distant from the conflict, are already feelings its impact on their economic activities, not to mention how the war disrupts future possibilities. 

The new Gulf War, which started on February 28 with the United States and Israel attacking Iran, is sending geopolitical shockwaves across continents. The actions of large state actors in situations like these severely limit the capacities and the opportunities of small states that rely on stability and soft power. Countries like Mongolia, despite being distant from the conflict, are already feelings its impact on their economic activities, not to mention how the war disrupts future possibilities.
Most immediately, the war has impacted Mongolians living in the Middle East. When the Israeli-U.S. strikes began, the Foreign Ministry of Mongolia urged Mongolian nationals in the region to get in touch with the Mongolian embassies in Egypt, Kuwait, Turkiye, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). 
On February 28, Mongolia’s Foreign Minister Battsetseg Batmunkh stated publicly that there were total of 281 Mongolian citizens currently residing in  the Middle East, specifically in the UAE (80), Egypt (45), Israel (40), Kuwait (38), Bahrain (33), Saudi Arabia (23), Qatar (19), Oman (2) and Jordan (1). The Office of the Foreign Ministry also highlighted there were no Mongolian citizens known to be in Iran. 
As the war escalated with Iran’s counter-strikes on U.S. allies in the Middle East, Mongolian nationals in the region sought to return home. 
On March 6, the Foreign Ministry of Mongolia released an official statement:
Mongolia is deeply concerned that the situation in the Middle East has severely deteriorated, with armed conflict escalating and resulting in the loss of many precious lives. These developments not only seriously undermine the norms of international law but also pose a grave threat to regional and global peace and security. As tensions intensify, the space for diplomatic engagement between the parties continues to narrow, and prospects for constructive dialogue are reaching an impasse.
Mongolia called for a peaceful and open dialogue. 
Following the official statement, on March 10, the Zandanshatar Gombojav government announced an effort to safely bring Mongolian citizens home via Dubai-Ulaanbaatar flights conducted by Mongolian Airlines or MIAT. As of March 11, the government announced that 91 Mongolian citizens had returned home safely. 
In the last several years, Mongolia has been strengthening its bilateral relations with the Middle Eastern countries, particularly with the Gulf states. To Mongolia, the region represents a new frontier of partners with financial and investment capabilities. These relationships mean diversified investment options for Mongolia. 
On the bilateral level, Mongolia and Iran’s historical ties were just recently refreshened. During talks between their respective foreign ministries in May 2025, Ulaanbaatar and Tehran expressed the desire to expand their relations, particularly in the economic field. Mongolia was seeking deeper connectivity with Tehran via the North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), which would allow Mongolia  to send its exports to the Persian Gulf using Russia and Central Asian connections. 
The current war interrupts those possibilities. While Mongolia is not expected to alter its diplomatic approach to any of the countries involved, certain economic engagements – not only with Iran, Israel, and the Gulf states, but presumably with a newly distracted United States – will need to be placed on the backburner, and not by Mongolia’s choice. 
As a small state with limited military power, Mongolia has refrained from becoming involved in most of the Middle East conflicts and complications. However, when the Israel-Hamas war escalated in 2023, Mongolia’s position became more clear: its foreign policy and global engagements support peaceful dialogue and negotiations. 
Mongolia has voted in the United Nations in favor of demanding ceasefire in Gaza as well as offering full support to the UNRWA, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees. Watching the escalation of the humanitarian catastrophe in Palestine, Mongolia voted in favor of demanding that Israel uphold its legal and humanitarian obligations. In 2024, Mongolia voted in favor of the U.N. General Assembly resolution ES-10/23, which included Palestine’s bid for full membership. Mongolia views these actions as part of its own international obligation to speak up for and support peace and security around the globe.
The current Gulf War certainly dampens Mongolia’s optimism in the Middle East, especially as the conflict escalates. Surely when Mongolia joined the Trump-led Board of Peace as founding member in Davos in January the government did not expect the United States and Israel to start a war with Iran. 
As of now, Mongolia is carefully watching how each nation is responding to the geopolitical shockwave and will continue to support the end of the conflict through dialogue. 

By Bolormaa Lkhaajav

Published Date:2026-03-13