Mongolia’s military has an expanding role abroad.  Mongolian foreign policy objectives coupled with military diplomacy are playing a fundamental role in augmenting military relations with many countries. Mongolia’s involvement in international missions and peacekeeping operations reflect Mongolia’s historical and contemporary principles and core values. Also, supporting, advocating, and actively contributing to world peace is part of the military modernization process.

According to Colonel T. Narankhuu, who is Mongolia’s defense and military attaché to the Embassy of Mongolia in Washington D.C, “As of now, Mongolia has military diplomatic relationships with the U.S.A., Japan, Germany, and 30 other countries and has a close military-technology accord with Russia, China, Turkey, Ukraine, and Belarus.” Since 2001, the Mongolian military has been involved in the American-led coalition’s counter-terrorism efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Mongolia also helps protect women and children from armed militias through UN Peacekeeping Operations in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). According to the 2016 Ranking of Military and Police Contribution to UN Operations report, Mongolia ranks 30th out of 123 countries with 950 peacekeepers operating in MENA countries.

Mongolian peacekeepers in MENA countries have been recognised by the international community. In May 2017, over 850 Mongolian peacekeepers stationed in South Sudan, were awarded the UN Medal. In March 2017, Sgt. T.Buyanzul and O. Tsend-Ayush, from the Mongolian Battalion, rescued a 2-year-old Sudanese boy from a warzone. Following this incident, in July 2017, 22 armed men attempted to break into the refugee camps but were stopped by Mongolian peacekeepers. These cases illustrate both the modernization of Mongolia’s military and its contribution to global peace.