Title: Mongolia’s Prime Minister Seeks Deepened Cooperation with the United States in Mining Rare Earths and Critical Minerals
In a significant diplomatic move, Mongolia’s Prime Minister L. Oyun-Erdene has visited Washington, expressing a strong desire to enhance cooperation with the United States in the mining of rare earths and critical minerals. This is seen as a crucial step towards supporting President Joe Biden’s efforts to promote electric vehicles and combat climate change.
Mongolia, being rich in rare earths and copper, possesses resources that are vital for high-tech applications and the advancement of President Biden’s green policies. Recognizing this potential, Prime Minister Oyun-Erdene met with Vice President Kamala Harris and both leaders agreed to sign an “Open Skies” civil aviation agreement, alongside other economic cooperation agreements.
During his visit, Prime Minister Oyun-Erdene emphasized the significance of Mongolia’s relationships with both the United States and China. He warned against the dangers of a “new Cold War” between these two superpowers, highlighting its potential harm to the global economy. This concern is particularly relevant for Mongolia since it is located between the two nations.
Building upon previous efforts, Mongolia and the United States have already begun cooperating on rare earths and critical minerals following a memorandum of understanding signed in June. Prime Minister Oyun-Erdene also revealed ongoing discussions with Tesla CEO Elon Musk regarding potential investment and cooperation in the electric vehicle sector and space exploration. Although he did not meet Musk during this visit, he plans to visit California separately in the future.
During his time in Washington, the Mongolian leader drew attention to the similarities between Mongolia’s Gobi Desert and the environment of Mars. He urged Elon Musk to conduct research in the Gobi Desert, hinting at the potential for further collaboration in space exploration.
In addition to meeting with Vice President Kamala Harris, Prime Minister Oyun-Erdene’s itinerary includes a visit to NASA and a meeting with Secretary of State Antony Blinken. The Prime Minister highlighted the United States as Mongolia’s “guiding Polar Star” in its democratic journey, expressing a desire to further enhance democratic values through discussions with U.S. officials.
Mongolia has experienced challenges due to its proximity to Russia, particularly in the aftermath of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. This has resulted in inflation of essential goods such as mining explosives, impacting Mongolia’s mining industry.
The Biden administration has been actively pursuing stronger relationships with Asian countries as a counterweight to China’s increasing influence and its alliance with Russia. Prime Minister Oyun-Erdene’s visit and the deepening cooperation between Mongolia and the United States in mining rare earths and critical minerals align with this broader strategy.
Overall, Prime Minister Oyun-Erdene’s visit to Washington marks an important milestone in strengthening ties between Mongolia and the United States. With a focus on mining rare earths, critical minerals, and promoting democratic values, this collaboration could have far-reaching implications for both nations and contribute to the global fight against climate change.
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