By: George William
For the past year, I have constantly been hearing people say that the US needs to help put an end to the Russian-Ukrainian conflict as soon as possible—or simply not be involved at all—because we’re just pushing Russia and China closer together. But let me ask you this: whenever tempers flair between the US and North Korea, why does no one say that all we’re doing is pushing them closer together?
The answer is simple: it’s because their being drawn together is a forgone conclusion and has been for a long time. The same goes for Russia and China.
People like to think that because the old Soviet bloc fell or because Hillary Clinton pushed a red button with the Russian ambassador, the Russia we have now is different than that of old. However, that is not the case. Putin is no different than any of the former Soviet leaders, from Stalin to Gorbachev. He is a tyrant who longs for the days when Russia was at its most powerful, and we know this from his actions.
Whenever someone suggests that if Russia gets what they want in Ukraine, they’ll go after another country, that person is mocked. To suggest that Ukraine would be the first domino to fall in a long chain seems absurd to them. Sadly, the truth is that these people just don’t know their history. Ukraine isn’t the first domino; it’s just the latest.
Ever since the Soviet bloc fell, Russia has been in constant conflict, trying to regain its sphere of influence. This is even more so since Putin has been in power. During his 24-year reign (so far), Putin’s desire for a powerful Russia to rival the US has sparked three major conflicts for the Russian people:
- Second Chechen War (1999-2000, Russia regained control over Chechnya)
- Russo-Georgian War (2008, Occupation of Abkhazia and South Ossetia)
- Russo-Ukrainian War (2014-present)
Putin hates the West and, therefore, the US. He wants us destroyed, and so does China. Their alliance is a forgone conclusion. There is nothing we can do to avoid what has already come to pass.
What we can do is form strong alliances ourselves. So far, this has been accomplished on two separate fronts. In Europe, NATO provides strong alliances for the Western front. Meanwhile, several independent alliances, such as those with Japan, South Korea, and the Philippines, to name just a few, provide protection in the Pacific. But there is one nation that has been overlooked for too long.
Mongolia is a land-locked country on the borders of both Russia and China and has a long history with both nations. This history is marked by war and conquest from both sides. In fact, most recently, Mongolia was a subject nation of the Soviet Union until its fall in 1991.
While Mongolia is not a strong military or economic power, it does harbor a deep enmity toward both Russia and China. Having a nation hostile to the West’s two greatest threats wedged right in between them is of such great strategic importance that it should not even need to be pointed out.
On the economic front, a close relationship with Mongolia would decrease the United States’ dependence on China by allowing us to move much of our trade to Mongolia. Also, it’s just good for business. The more nations the United States engages in trade with, and the more economically secure those nations are, the better it is for us and our economy.
In terms of military strategy, an alliance with Mongolia would provide a foothold in the region, just as Israel does in the Middle East. Being able to project strength in such an area saves lives and prevents conflict in the long run.
In short, the US should be seeking closer ties with Mongolia because it is good for both us and them. While reaping the benefits outlined above, the United States would also be strengthening Mongolia both militarily and economically, enabling them to defend themselves against their aggressive neighbors if need be but, hopefully, deterring such actions altogether. Without such measures, if Russia wins in Ukraine or China takes Taiwan, it will only be a matter of time until one or the other turns on Mongolia.