Mongolia: U.S. Recognition and Diplomatic Relations since 1776

Summary

For roughly 200 years prior to 1911, what is today the nation of Mongolia was contained within the territorial borders of the Empire of China. After the collapse of that empire, a group of Mongolia nationalists established a new republic in 1924, with the assistance of the Soviet Union. Mongolians affirmed their independence in a plebiscite in October 1945, but because Mongolia remained close to the Soviet Union, relations between Mongolia and the United States were slow to develop.

Modern Flag of Mongolia

Recognition

U.S. Recognition of Mongolia, 1987

The United States recognized the People’s Republic of Mongolia on January 27, 1987, when the two nations established formal diplomatic relations in a joint communiqué. Prior to this, the United States had on several occasions during the Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, and Carter Administrations entertained the possibility of recognition, both through internal discussions and informal discussions with Mongolian representatives, without success. Although the United States had not blocked Mongolia’s 1961 entrance into the UN (the United States abstained), and had signed several multilateral treaties to which Mongolia was also a party, these acts had not constituted recognition.

Diplomatic Relations

Establishment of Diplomatic Relations, 1987

The United States established diplomatic relations with Mongolia on January 27, 1987, when the United States and Mongolia issued a joint communiqué to that effect.

Establishment of the American Embassy in Mongolia, 1988

The American Embassy at Ulaanbaatar was opened on April 17, 1988, with Steven Mann as Chargé d’Affaires ad interim.

Resources

Where this page came from

This page was imported from U.S. Department of State, Office of the Historian. A Guide to the United States' History of Recognition, Diplomatic, and Consular Relations, by Country, since 1776, published by the Office of the Historian of the U.S. Department of State: a work of the United States government, in the public domain.

Nobody has written it yet — it is the source material at a new address, which is why search engines are asked to skip it and why no one earns from it. It is up for grabs: take it on, and it is yours to rewrite and to earn from.