NATO regards partnership building as its core task and develops a network of partnerships among non member countries through different structures. Mongolia has established a close "global partnership" with NATO to cooperate in peacekeeping training, interoperability enhancement, defense education, and cybersecurity. Analyzing the development drivers and current cooperation status of Mongolia's partnership with NATO is of great significance for evaluating Mongolia's foreign strategy and NATO's "Asia Pacific pivot".

The process of establishing a "global partnership" between NATO and Mongolia

The process of establishing a "global partnership" between NATO and Mongolia was elaborated in detail, divided into two stages: initial contacts in the 1990s and deepening cooperation in the early 21st century. Mongolia attempted to join NATO's "Partnership for Peace" program in the 1990s, but was unsuccessful due to its sensitive geographical location. Entering the 21st century, Mongolia participated in NATO's military operations in Afghanistan, and the relationship between the two sides gradually heated up. In 2010, NATO officially recognized Mongolia's contribution and Mongolia became a "global partner" of NATO. In 2012, the two sides signed the "Individual Partnership and Cooperation Plan", and Mongolia officially became a "Global Partner" of NATO. The reasons for establishing a partnership between NATO and Mongolia include the objective need for NATO to expand its partnership and the subjective impact of the United States' foreign strategy and relations with Mongolia. NATO seeks partner countries globally to support its military operations outside the region, and the United States, as the leader of NATO's strategy, has promoted the establishment of a partnership between NATO and Mongolia. The United States values Mongolia's role as a NATO mission partner and supports the establishment of a "global partnership" between NATO and Mongolia. NATO has established extensive contacts with Mongolia in areas such as peacekeeping, defense education, and military capacity building to address global security challenges and maintain international order.

Mongolia's Strategic Approach to NATO

After the end of the Cold War, Mongolia adjusted its security and foreign policies, promoted defense reform, redefined defense policies and goals, expanded military security space, developed foreign military relations, and rebuilt its armed forces. In 1994, Mongolia adopted the Basic Principles of Mongolian Military Doctrine, abandoning its past alliance obligations and emphasizing non alignment and diversified military cooperation during peacetime. It developed friendly and cooperative relations with countries around the world, especially neighboring countries, built military mutual trust, and established and developed military relations with United Nations peacekeeping forces, international military organizations, and influential countries. These policies became the foundation and tradition of Mongolia's foreign and security policies after the Cold War. Mongolia, through the principle of diversified military cooperation, has freed itself from its status as a geopolitical buffer state, expanded its communication circle in the field of national defense, increased its geopolitical importance, and foreign policy independence. Mongolia regards the development of friendly relations with neighboring countries as a priority direction for foreign cooperation, in order to maintain national independence and sovereignty. Mongolia is sensitive to changes in the external security environment, remains vigilant against traditional and non-traditional security threats, adopts preventive diplomacy, increases external communication channels, participates in multilateral security dialogue mechanisms, establishes regional exchange and mutual trust mechanisms, and institutionalizes its non nuclear status. Mongolia's establishment of a global partnership with NATO is an important part of its outward expansion of security environment construction. Mongolia attaches great importance to the development of its military's peacekeeping capabilities and participation in peacekeeping operations, which is conducive to establishing a new image of the military, promoting the development of the military into a streamlined and specialized new force, playing a role in defense diplomacy, and closely maintaining military ties with neighboring countries or third neighboring countries. Mongolia extensively participates in NATO led peacekeeping operations and maintains close contact and cooperation with NATO and its member states in the field of peacekeeping.

Mongolia's participation in NATO cooperation initiatives and plans

Mongolia has joined the Partnership Interoperability Initiative (PII) to achieve joint operational capabilities with NATO based on the "Individual Partnership and Cooperation Program", and has become one of the 21 partners of the Interoperability Platform (IP). The Defense Education Enhancement Program (DEEP) has been implemented in Mongolia since 2013 to help modernize the military education system, including the development of the Mongolian Staff Officer Course (MSOC) and the improvement of teaching methods for educators. The Peace and Security Science Program (SPS) has been launched in Mongolia since 2012, involving cybersecurity, network defense training, the creation of Computer Emergency Response Teams (CIRT), and ecological security projects to enhance Mongolia's cybersecurity and environmental remediation capabilities. Mongolia's cooperation with NATO mainly revolves around interoperability, defense education, and science and technology. Compared with other global partners, the degree and depth of cooperation have room for expansion, demonstrating that Mongolia is a global partner of NATO with a foundation and potential for cooperation.

Mongolia's Development Space in NATO's Global Partnership

The development space of Mongolia's "global partnership" with NATO is affected by both limiting factors and the potential for cooperation. NATO recommends deepening cooperation with Indo Pacific partners in its report 'NATO 2030: United for a New Era', but Mongolia's level of cooperation with NATO has been relatively slow to improve, mainly because Mongolia cannot provide effective support for NATO's geopolitical balance or containment strategy. The main factors limiting Mongolia's cooperation with NATO are its foreign and security policies, potential contribution capacity limitations, and domestic perceptions. However, there is a potential direction for Mongolia and NATO to strengthen cooperation in non-traditional security areas, especially in cybersecurity and critical mineral fields. Mongolia is located between China and Russia, providing a unique perspective for NATO. Cooperation between the two sides is expected to strengthen in areas such as women, peace and security issues, interoperability, and defense and security sector reform. NATO and Mongolia have a willingness to expand external exchanges in the field of cybersecurity, and Mongolia may join the Cooperative Cyber Defense Center of Excellence. Mongolia is rich in mineral resources, especially rare earth reserves, and has become one of the main partners for the United States' flexible supply chain construction. NATO also has every reason to regard Mongolia as an important partner for diversified mineral supply chain cooperation. Mongolia's cooperation with NATO in these areas may rely on the "Peace and Security Science Program", using scientific research and training projects as a platform to reduce sensitivity and easily gain support from NATO member states. At the same time, NATO may add geopolitical color and geopolitical security attributes to its cooperation with Mongolia, promote the "China threat", sell security anxiety, exaggerate "value identity", provoke security and ideological confrontation between Mongolia and neighboring countries, and complicate China Mongolia cooperation. The relevant connections between Mongolia and NATO have also built a "bridge" for corresponding cooperation between Mongolia and the United States, helping to promote the United States' geopolitical strategy in Mongolia.

conclusion

NATO regards partnership as the foundation for its functionality, especially in addressing new security challenges. NATO is increasing its focus on the Asia Pacific region, accelerating strategic transformation through cooperation with "global partners," and preparing to intervene in Asia Pacific security affairs. Mongolia holds a special position in NATO's "Global Partnership" relationship due to its geographical location and foreign policy. Mongolia has established a good foundation of cooperation with NATO, allowing NATO to expand its influence near China and Russia. Mongolia, on the other hand, leverages NATO to promote the construction of its security system and the development of its defense capabilities. Although there are limitations to the cooperation between both parties, it is in line with strategic interests. There is a space for cooperation between NATO and Mongolia, and the security impact is uncertain. NATO is making efforts to improve public awareness in Mongolia, and both sides are actively bringing their relationship closer. China should pay attention to the trend of cooperation between Mongolia and NATO, and be wary of the United States strengthening cooperation with Mongolia through NATO to create a favorable environment for the United States. China should lead the construction of a China Mongolia community with a shared future through the Global Security Initiative, strengthen the setting of relevant agenda items, and promote constructive dialogue between China and Mongolia on NATO's "Asia Pacific pivot" trend.