Mongolia
vs
United States
The relation between Mongolia and United States is EXCELLENT, and they could be called STRATEGIC ALLIES, with an overall score of 9.72 out of 10.
Chance of conflict between both countries: extremely rare
Head to head: who leads each category
Mongolia
3.6M
United States
341.8M
Leads
Mongolia
$25.4B
United States
$30.8T
Leads
Mongolia
$180.8M
United States
$997.3B
Leads
Mongolia
#95
United States
#1
Leads
About this relationship
The United States and Mongolia maintain a close partnership that Mongolia frames as central to its "third neighbor" foreign policy, aimed at balancing the influence of its only two immediate neighbors, Russia and China.
Formal diplomatic relations began in January 1987, and the US embassy opened in Ulaanbaatar the following year; the relationship was elevated to a strategic partnership in 2019 during a meeting between Presidents Donald Trump and Khaltmaagiin Battulga, reflecting growing high-level engagement between the two governments.
Economic ties remain relatively modest given Mongolia's landlocked position between two much larger trading partners, with bilateral trade in the low hundreds of millions of dollars annually, though an Open Skies aviation agreement signed in 2023 has facilitated direct flight connections, and Mongolia has received substantial US development assistance over the decades through USAID and the Millennium Challenge Corporation.
Security cooperation includes Mongolian troop contributions to US-led operations in Iraq and Afghanistan and to NATO's Kosovo mission, along with the long-running annual multinational Khaan Quest peacekeeping exercise hosted in Mongolia, which the United States helps organize.
Public opinion in Mongolia is notably favorable toward Washington, and the relationship overall is best described as a close, values-oriented partnership that carries outsized symbolic and strategic weight for Ulaanbaatar as it seeks to diversify its foreign relations beyond its two dominant neighbors.
Strengths & comparison
The position in the international influence ranking of United States is 1, while Mongolia is situated 94 places below in the ranking (position 95). United States maintains contact with 201 countries, while Mongolia maintains contact with 33 countries. United States maintains an excellent relation with 73 countries, while in the case of Mongolia, this figure drops to 3.
About Mongolia
Mongolia is a landlocked country located in East Asia, bordered by Russia to the north and China to the south, east, and west. It has a population of about 3 million people and a land area of approximately 1.56 million square miles. Mongolia is a parliamentary republic with a president as head of state and a prime minister as head of government.
The country has a diverse economy, with industries ranging from agriculture and mining to manufacturing and tourism. Mongolia is rich in natural resources, including coal, copper, and gold, and it is also home to a large herd of livestock, including sheep, goats, and horses.
Mongolia has a long history of nomadic pastoralism and has close cultural and economic ties with both Russia and China. It has a strategic location at the crossroads of Asia and Europe, which has made it an important transit route for goods and trade throughout history.
In recent years, Mongolia has faced economic challenges due to declining commodity prices and a slowdown in demand from China, its largest trading partner. However, the country has also made efforts to diversify its economy and increase its economic ties with other countries, including the United States and other countries in the region.
Overall, Mongolia is a diverse and dynamic country with a rich history and a strategic location in the heart of Asia.
Geography & terrain
Landlocked, no coastline. Dominated by high steppe grasslands and plateau, the Gobi Desert in the south, and mountain ranges (Altai, Khangai) in the west and north. Cold, dry continental climate with extreme seasonal swings. The open steppe historically favored fast-moving cavalry warfare and offers little in the way of defensive chokepoints, while the surrounding deserts and mountains form a broader buffer against sustained invasion.
About United States
The United States is a federal constitutional republic comprising 50 states and a capital district. It is one of the world's oldest and most influential democracies, and has a long history of global engagement. Located in North America, the United States is bordered by Canada to the north and Mexico to the south. It has a diverse population and a strong economy, and is home to a wide variety of cultures and lifestyles.
Politically, the United States has a federal system of government, with powers divided between the national government and the states. The country has a presidential system of government, with the President serving as both the head of state and the head of government. The United States has a bicameral Congress, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives, which makes and passes federal laws. The Supreme Court is the highest court in the land and has the power to interpret the Constitution and make judicial decisions that can shape national policy.
The United States has a strong, diverse economy that is powered by a variety of industries, including manufacturing, agriculture, energy, technology, and finance. The country is a leader in international trade and has a large and influential military. It is a member of numerous international organizations, including the United Nations and NATO, and plays a key role in shaping global political and economic developments.
Geography & terrain
Protected on two sides by oceans (Atlantic and Pacific), which has made direct invasion effectively impossible since the 19th century. Interior terrain is highly varied — the Appalachians in the east, the Great Plains in the middle, the Rocky Mountains in the west — but none of it has mattered much militarily given the ocean buffers. Climate ranges from temperate to subtropical to arid, depending on the region.
| Mongolia |
United States |
|
|---|---|---|
| Government type | Semi-presidential republic | Federal presidential republic |
| GDP | $25.4B | $30.8TLeads |
| GDP per capita | $7.1K | $90.0KLeads |
| Military expenditure | $180.8M | $997.3BLeads |
| Military expenditure per capita | $51 | $2.9KLeads |
| Land military expenditure (estimation) | $135.6M | $279.2BLeads |
| Air military expenditure (estimation) | $45.2M | $339.1BLeads |
| Naval military expenditure (estimation) | n/a | $379.0B |
| Nuclear power | No | Yes |
| European Union | Not a member | Not a member |
| NATO | Not a member | Member |
Strengths & comparison
The capitals of Mongolia and United States are approximately 10 356 km apart (straight-line distance). There is a standard time difference of about 13.0 hours between them.
Based on shared language, currency, economic profile, borders and international groups, Mongolia and United States score a 0/100 similarity index. This is a fun, approximate metric — not a scientific one.
Excellent relation (7+/10) with both countries
Very bad relation (3-/10) with both countries
Which side is each country closer to?
Comparing Mongolia's and United States's scores against the same third countries shows where each one has a clear edge. Mongolia scores noticeably higher with: Russia, Myanmar, North Korea, Bulgaria, Turkey.United States scores noticeably higher with: Egypt, Taiwan, Malaysia, Kosovo, Philippines.
The relation between Mongolia and United States hasn't changed recently, and it remains at 9.7.
Score history
Let's suppose a hypothetical conflict occurs between both countries:
Solo scenario: Mongolia vs United States
Allies scenario: Team Mongolia vs Team United States
In a hypothetical conflict between Mongolia and United States, probably, Russia will participate helping Mongolia.
Egypt will participate helping United States.
Battle narrative
Initial phase
With both the bigger war chest and the stronger air force, United States is well placed to seize the initiative early, striking key military and infrastructure targets first.
Force composition
United States can also call on significantly more personnel, counting both active-duty and reserve forces. United States's advantage extends to naval power as well.
Ground campaign
Mongolia's terrain could make a rapid ground campaign difficult: The open steppe historically favored fast-moving cavalry warfare and offers little in the way of defensive chokepoints, while the surrounding deserts and mountains form a broader buffer against sustained invasion. Ulaanbaatar would likely be a focal point of the campaign: The capital dominates the country's rail network, sitting on the only rail line linking Russia to China through Mongolia. United States's terrain could make a rapid ground campaign difficult: Protected on two sides by oceans (Atlantic and Pacific), which has made direct invasion effectively impossible since the 19th century. Panama Canal would likely be a focal point of the campaign: Though not U.S. territory, it remains vital to U.S. naval logistics by allowing rapid fleet transfer between the Atlantic and Pacific without circling South America. United States's larger population could also support a prolonged resistance.
Prolonged conflict
United States's stronger economy could help sustain military operations in a prolonged conflict. United States also devotes a larger share of its economy to defense (about 3.2% of GDP), a more militarized posture that could be easier to sustain over time. Occupying Mongolia outright would likely prove costly given its terrain.
Overall assessment
Overall, the numbers favor United States, giving it an estimated 90.2% chance of coming out on top. Turning that edge into a decisive win over Mongolia — and holding any ground taken — would still be far from guaranteed.
Initial phase
With both the bigger war chest and the stronger air force, United States's team is well placed to seize the initiative early, striking key military and infrastructure targets first.
Force composition
United States's team's advantage extends to naval power as well.
Ground campaign
United States's team's larger population could also support a prolonged resistance.
Coalition
Mongolia's team goes into this conflict as a coalition of Russia and Mongolia. United States's team goes into this conflict as a coalition of United States and Egypt. Coordinating several countries at once adds combined strength for both sides, but also extra logistical and political complexity.
Prolonged conflict
United States's team's stronger economy could help sustain military operations in a prolonged conflict. Mongolia's team also devotes a larger share of its economy to defense (about 5.8% of GDP), a more militarized posture that could be easier to sustain over time. United States's team's members are spread far apart, which could make sustained logistics harder the longer the conflict runs.
Overall assessment
United States's team would be more likely to prevail in this matchup, with an estimated 64.8% probability of winning. Achieving a decisive victory over Mongolia's team — let alone occupying it — would likely be more difficult than that headline number suggests.
Want to build your own teams? Try the War Simulator.