By Chandmani Sukhbaatar
This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Ulaanbaatar Dialogue on Northeast Asian Security (UBD), an open and inclusive platform fostering important discussions on regional security and connectivity. Over the past decade, UBD has become an established forum in the region and beyond, where academics, diplomats and policy practitioners hold crucial discussions on pressing issues, both new and old. With UBD’s persistent engagement and dialogue, the forum has promoted trust, cooperation and interconnectivity among Northeast Asian countries with emphasis on security cooperation, energy resilience, climate change, and regional cooperation. With ever-changing geopolitical dynamics, the Northeast Asian region is a hotspot for geopolitical shockwaves, as it comprises of key global players with contrasting worldviews. For this reason, the UBD remains a committed platform for fostering dialogue on shared challenges and prospects, reinforcing its role as an essential platform for open and inclusive discussions not only in the region, but also between Northeast and Central Asian regions.
From vision to reality
Looking back into history, the Mongols have long been a bridge between civilizations, fostering connectivity and inclusivity throughout history. During the Mongol Empire, the great khans not only conquered vast territories but also facilitated and encouraged unprecedented cultural, economic, and diplomatic exchanges between East and the West. During the era of Pax Mongolica, a stable environment developed, allowing inter-state relations to flourish, and helped create ease of communication and travel along the silk road, linking far away regions. This era saw the exchange of goods, ideas, and innovations, strengthening global interconnectedness centuries before globalization became a modern concept.
In modern history, from the early 1960s to the 1980s, Mongolia made efforts and strived in implementing various foreign policy initiatives but remained constrained by its Soviet-centric foreign policy alignment. In the 1960s, Mongolia focused on strengthening socialist ties and gaining international recognition. By the 1970s, Mongolia began engaging in multilateral diplomacy, actively participating in socialist organizations, improving relations with non-aligned countries, and contributing to global peace efforts through UNESCO, WHO, and other UN agencies. In the 1980s, despite continued Soviet oversight, Mongolia sought to expand diplomatic relations with Western and Asian nations, at the same time advocating for regional stability and a nuclear-free Asia, an initiative that gained increasing international support and later would be a key component to capitalize in establishing the UBD’s agenda on denuclearization issues.
Following the wave of democratic revolutions around the world in late 1980’s, Mongolia underwent a peaceful transition to a full democracy in 1990, after seven decades of communist rule. This successful transition through dialogue is often overlooked, but serves as a clear example of Mongolia’s commitment to dialogue and communication. Since then, Mongolia has experienced rapid economic and democratic growth, and started implementing its own foreign policy as an active international player. In the early 2000’s, inspired by the Helsinki Process, Mongolian foreign policy experts envisioned the creation of a regional platform, to engage Northeast Asian stakeholders in addressing and solving regional challenges. The Institute for Strategic Studies organized a conference titled, “Ulaanbaatar as New Helsinki?” to promote Mongolia as a neutral venue for security dialogues. Hence, the idea of Ulaanbaatar Dialogue was proposed in 2013 and the first dialogue was organized successfully in 2014.
This deep-rooted tradition of fostering dialogue and cooperation continues today through Mongolia’s active foreign policy, and the Ulaanbaatar Dialogue is an example of this commitment. The UBD reinforces Mongolia’s role as a neutral and open ground for discussions, ensuring that regional cooperation is at the forefront of international efforts. Just as the Mongol Empire once connected diverse cultures and states, today Mongolia continues to keep the spirit of this dialogue-driven solutions for a more interconnected and peaceful region.
A decade of Engagement
Over the past decade, UBD has marked numerous achievements, establishing itself as an essential platform for engagement on regional cooperation and dialogue. Its continued success showcases Mongolia’s unwavering commitment to promoting peace, stability, and collaborative development. Moreover, UBD has become a cornerstone of Mongolia’s foreign policy strategy. As Mongolia celebrate its 10th anniversary this year, it stands as a testament to a decade of persistent efforts from Mongolia, to position itself as a responsible and active international player.
UBD offers a unique friendly space where even nations with longstanding hostilities, such as the two Koreas, can come together for constructive engagement. Its establishment mirrors the historical development of the OSCE, which was founded during the Cold War to foster dialogue between East and West, similar to how UBD aims to facilitate communication between Northeast Asian countries with complex relationships and historical animosity. Both initiatives emphasize neutrality, inclusiveness, and multilateral dialogue as means to ensure regional security and cooperation, making the parallel between UBD and OSCE significant in their shared goals of conflict prevention and regional stability.
Over the years, UBD has continuously evolved to adapt to shifting global and regional dynamics, in order to address relevant and crucial issues. This flexibility in responding to emerging challenges has strengthened the role of UBD as a dynamic platform for dialogue. Since 2017, the Ulaanbaatar Dialogue adopted the Track 1.5 diplomacyapproach for the first time, bringing together government officials, regional scholars, and representatives of international organizations. This format has allowed for more open and flexible discussions, fostering deeper engagement between official and non-official actors. Furthermore, in 2023, the introduction of the UBD Youth Forum, launched in partnership with UNDP, has brought in fresh outlook and energy into UBD by encouraging young voices in regional discussions and youth participation in tackling critical regional challenges. In 2024, aligning with Mongolia’s flagship initiative to plant one billion trees by 2030 to combat climate change and deforestation, as well as Mongolia’s aspirations to host COP in 2026 and contribute to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, UBD integrated climate change into its dialogue. These actions further underscores UBD’s adaptability and commitment to addressing global challenges and its awareness to pressing global issues.
Conclusion
Representation at the Ulaanbaatar Dialogue has steadily increased – in terms of participants, countries, and international organizations – reflecting its growing relevance as a regional platform for open dialogue. Mongolia’s strategic geographical position and its historical legacy as a connector between regions provide a strong foundation for UBD’s role in fostering cooperation. Recognizing Mongolia’s unique position as a bridge between Central Asia and Northeast Asia, recent dialogues have seen increased participation and interest from Central Asian states, further expanding UBD’s regional scope.
Finally, Mongolia’s status as a neutral country enhances its credibility as a host, often earning it the reputation of the “Switzerland of Asia.” This neutrality makes Ulaanbaatar an ideal venue for meaningful discussions and cooperation not only for Northeast and Central Asia, but also for the rest of the world. The increasing participation of delegates and organizations underscores UBD’s growing recognition as a trusted regional platform to freely express and communicate.
