President Putin received a warm welcome in Mongolia this week, where he was greeted with an honor guard upon his arrival. The visit, which included an impressive delegation, reaffirmed the commitment to strengthening the strategic partnership between Russia and Mongolia. What made this visit particularly noteworthy was the fact that Mongolia, as a member of the International Criminal Court (ICC), was expected to act on a politicized arrest warrant for Putin. However, the government of Mongolia chose to prioritize its national interests over external pressure, showcasing a recalibration of its geopolitical alignment towards Russia.
In contrast, South Africa’s decision not to host Putin during last year’s BRICS Summit highlighted a different approach. Despite being more populous, militarily stronger, and economically more prosperous than Mongolia, South Africa opted to appease Western pressure instead of asserting its sovereignty. This disparity in responses underscores the importance of a country’s policymaking elite in determining its foreign policy decisions.
Mongolia’s policymaking elite, shaped by a history of multi-aligning foreign policy strategies, has demonstrated a more nuanced approach to balancing international partnerships. Since the end of the Cold War, Mongolia has pursued a “Third Neighbor Policy” to avoid over-reliance on neighboring powers like Russia and China. This flexible approach has allowed Mongolia to assert its national interests decisively, even in the face of Western pressure.
Understanding the dynamics within a country’s deep state can provide insights into its foreign policy decisions and alliances. While BRICS operates as a network of countries coordinating financial multipolarity processes, individual member states may respond differently to external pressures based on their internal power dynamics. South Africa’s reluctance to host Putin and Brazil’s potential future decisions should not undermine the overall functioning of BRICS, which remains focused on financial multipolarity rather than anti-Western bloc politics.
Ultimately, a country’s commitment to financial multipolarity processes does not always determine its response to external pressure. The composition of its policymaking elite and deep state dynamics play a significant role in shaping foreign policy decisions. As Mongolia continues to navigate its strategic partnerships, its agile approach to international relations serves as a model for balancing national interests and external pressures.