Mongolia's Contribution to International Peace and Security Under United Nations Peacekeeping Operations and NATO

Mongolia, a landlocked state in Central Asia bordering the People's Republic of China to the south and Russia to the north, has been participating in United Nations (UN) peacekeeping operations since 2002. It initially participated in the UN mission in Congo as an observer with two personnel. Mongolia has continued to contribute every year since then and the number of personnel in the mission reached 900 in 2020. In addition, the number of missions in which Mongolia has participated has increased to five, expanding its mandate. Considering that the number of personnel provided since 2002 has exceeded 14,000, the extent of Mongolia's contribution to international peace and security has become remarkable. Mongolia also began to develop relations with NATO in 2005 as part of its partners across the globe and deployed the first Mongolian infantry unit to northern Afghanistan to take part in the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in 2003. In fact, this was not Mongolia's first mission within NATO. Previously, a small Mongolian contingent served under the command of the Kosovo Force (KFOR) during the crisis in the Balkans between 2005 and 2007.