Amid  Rising Tensions With China, India Extends Invitation To Mongolia’s Newly Elected President

As tensions with China rise with no prospects of a peaceful walk-back, the government has invited the newly-elected Mongolian President Khaltmaa Battulga to visit India. The invitation to Battulga, a vocal critic of China, is being seen as a subtle message to Beijing before National Security Advisor Ajit Doval’s visit.

During his election campaign, Battulga advocated greater economic independence from Beijing and criticised its policy towards the region. China is Mongolia’s largest trading partner, and 90 per cent of Mongolia’s exports go to China.

This dependence has cost Mongolia dearly, most recently in 2016. After the Dalai Lama’s visit to the country in 2016, China closed a key border crossing between the two countries, bringing Mongolia’s fragile economy to a halt. Beijing cancelled loans and development projects offered to Mongolia, forcing the country to pledge to extend no more invitations to the Dalai Lama.

However, India’s border outreach to Mongolia predates the current stand-off with China. Indian Ambassador to Mongolia was one of the first to meet him after his victory in the presidential election. Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Mongolia in May 2015 and extended a $1 Billion line of credit to the country.