“Be true to the game, because the game will be true to you.” – Michael Jordan
Introduction
Recent years have seen the slow erosion of US influence in East Asia. While Southeast Asian countries are moving away from US-led multilateral agreements in favor of China, even close allies like Japan and South Korea seem to be hedging their bets economically, unwilling to side wholeheartedly with the US as US-China tensions escalate. The same is true for other non-aligned countries in the region. But perhaps one of the most concerning examples of this shift is Mongolia’s move away from American influence, especially considering that Mongolia’s transition to democracy took place under the mentorship of the United States.
Mongolia, positioned between two of the US’s most significant adversaries, Russia and China, presents a unique opportunity for the US to create a beachhead of soft power in a complex neighborhood. But based on recent history the US needs to develop a new playbook to achieve that important geopolitical goal.
Over the past 40 years, the U.S. has committed to supporting Mongolian economy and democracy, but many of these efforts have failed to yield lasting results. America’s entry into Mongolia’s oil market, intended to revitalize and drive the industry up the value chain, devolved into a geopolitical scandal when US operator, SOCO, sold exclusive rights to PetroChina.1 Similarly, U.S. ambitions to enter the critical minerals market have been swamped by the success of Rio Tinto, a British-Australian mining conglomerate. Even relatively successful initiatives, such as U.S.-Mongolian military cooperation, Khaan Quest, have limited room for expansion due to fears of provoking Russia and China. Recent programs to support Mongolia’s democracy, such as funding political NGOs and social awareness campaigns, have proven ineffective, as Mongolia’s new leadership often views these efforts as threats to its authority.
In the meantime, Mongolia has upweighted its cooperation with China, Russia, and non-aligned nations. For example, Mongolia has promoted the construction of the Siberia 2 Pipeline to further open up the China-Mongolia-Russia geographic corridor. Mongolian technocrats have pressured parliament to match Mongolia’s railway gauges with China’s – to assure speedier transportation of coking coal. Mongolia has also invited India to construct an oil refinery, thus helping create a crucial value-adding step to Mongolia’s fossil fuel industry. Mongolia has also expressed a strong interest in strengthening economic ties with Uzbekistan in 2024, with a focus on accessing Central Asia’s agriculture and light industry markets.
The reality is that while the U.S. recognizes its inability to compete with China and Russia in terms of hard power, its soft power efforts have also struggled to gain traction. These mis-steps not only allow Mongolia to find other more reliable partners in its development, but also blunt America’s presence in the East Asian region overall—much to China’s content.
Despite the decay of US hard power influence, American culture remains uniquely aspirational to Mongolians across the demographic spectrum. American music, fashion, entertainment and especially sports appeal to the heart and soul of Mongolia in a way that China and Russia will never rival. To reclaim influence in Mongolia, perhaps America can launch a new strategy that leverages innovative soft power and serves as a model for its broader role in East Asia. Where can America build that new Mongolian beachhead? One word: Basketball.
Basketball’s Context in Mongolia
For decades, Mongolia has been ‘balled-up’ by an undeniable cultural trend: Basketball. But in a nation known for traditional wrestling, throat singing, and horse riding, how did this unusual “Hoop Dream” take hold in the Mongolian plains?
Although originally introduced to Mongolia in the 1960’s by the Russians and Chinese in an attempt to ‘modernize’ the nation, basketball’s modern popularity came primarily from American influence. The rise of a Chicago Bulls dynasty during the years following Mongolia’s Democratic Revolution exposed Mongolians to the NBA and created excitement around western culture. High level government officials, inspired by watching NBA games during trips to the US, brought back dreams to make basketball an official sport to match the modernity of Mongolia’s new era. Over time, basketball enthusiasm grew substantially when one of Mongolia’s own, Tserenjanhor Sharavjamts, joined the Harlem Globetrotters for international exhibition games. Basketball culture continued to grow on the domestic level as well, leading to the creation of a national basketball league in the late 2010s; Mongolia’s choice was to follow the NBA’s rules. Today, the basketball fascination still lives under the halo of the NBA and its associations to American pop culture — NBA jerseys and streetwear define the “cool,” and passion around NBA games resembles levels in the US. The cultural impact of basketball in Mongolia also pays huge dividends to America’s soft power among Mongolia’s young population.2
While Mongolia was known to be weak in team sports and strong in individual sports like Judo, basketball has provided a new outlet for athletic success. Since 2017, Mongolia’s men’s teams have twice won gold at the FIBA 3×3 Asian Cup, silver twice, and bronze once. Furthermore, the Mongolian women’s 3×3 basketball team qualified for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, a first time achievement for any Mongolian basketball team. With 3 Mongolian players playing in the American NCAA—including Tserenjanhor Sharavjamts’ son Mike, who might become Mongolia’s first NBA professional when he graduates from the University of Utah in 2026—it seems that basketball in Mongolia will only gain further momentum over the coming years.
Mongolia seems to be on track to become a basketball haven for a new generation of talent, but US and international organizations have yet to participate in its development. In 2024 Mongolia hosted the 3×3 basketball world tour, but it has never been able to attract an NBA team or secure a visit from an NBA star. Recent plans to bring the Utah Jazz to Mongolia created great anticipation, but never materialized. MCS, Mongolia’s largest business conglomerate built 118 new 3×3 basketball courts in Ulaanbaatar alone, yet it has been unable to secure US or international organizations to launch basketball development programs on these courts. Nevertheless, there is a growing demand for basketball in Mongolia and general openness toward American influence—leaving an interesting gap that the United States could fill with an unconventional foreign policy initiative.
With this undeniable cultural trend, how might all three stakeholders—Mongolia, the US and the NBA—collaborate towards creating better basketball in Mongolia?
The Obstacles and Successes of America’s Presence in Mongolia
Before delving into the basketball play-by-play, it’s helpful to contextualize why basketball fits into America’s Mongolian mission. Since its Democratic Revolution, Mongolia has welcomed various forms of American investment, but the road has not always been smooth. Mongolia’s geographic isolation resulted in logistical obstacles, high costs, and necessitated collaboration with Chinese companies, most of them state owned. Furthermore, Mongolia’s unpredictable business climate over the last 20 years has been a disincentive for American companies to invest—especially in the mining sector, where Mongolia has hoped to diversify away from Chinese and Russian influence. Bearing witness to China and Russia tightening their grip on the region’s non-aligned nations, Mongolia needs American presence to support and protect its “Oasis of Democracy.” But considering the structural obstacles to investment, it is clear that America’s corporate presence can’t be the only vehicle for US influence in Mongolia.3
Development assistance has often been a soft power solution for the US. In the past five years, the US funded the half-billion-dollar Millennium Challenge Compact that built 70% of Ulaanbaatar’s fresh water supply and generated funding for USAID projects in voter education, primary education, and women’s rights. The State Department and National Endowment for the Humanities also funded the American Center of Mongolian Studies, an ‘academic embassy’ that continues to support collaboration between western scholars and their Mongolian peers.
Interpersonal exchanges have been particularly successful over the 30 years of bilateral relations. US Peace Corps volunteers and Fulbright Scholars have led development programs and taught in rural schools; the ‘American Corner’ program has built spaces for computer labs, performance auditoriums, and meeting rooms for cultural exchange and entrepreneurial incubators. With these new programs, a new generation of young Mongolians, exposed to western ways of life, are beginning to see America and its western ideals as aspirational.
Although these projects have achieved some success, the U.S. Embassy in Ulaanbaatar continues to face significant diplomatic setbacks—many of them self-imposed. Western sanctions on Russia have indirectly impacted Mongolian standards of living by cutting normal trade routes for Western products. To compensate, the ruling Mongolian People’s Party (MPP) has increased its imports of Russian and Chinese goods. Despite efforts to diversify its economy, Mongolia has deepened its economic reliance on China, increasing bilateral trade by 34% this year to surpass $12.5 billion. Already entangled in a challenging currency swap agreement with China, Mongolia has secured additional Chinese loans to finance hydroelectric and telecommunications infrastructure projects. Additionally, Mongolia ignored an ICC arrest warrant by welcoming Vladimir Putin in September 2024, a rare breach of Mongolia’s commitment to an international organization. Domestically, the MPP has undermined certain U.S.-backed initiatives aimed at bolstering Mongolia’s democratic framework. Following the 2021 presidential election, for example, the Party canceled the US-funded Ugluu social media campaign – an online platform designed to encourage young Mongolians to vote—citing concerns about misinformation. The MPP also allowed the program to peter out in the lead up to the 2024 parliamentary elections.
While Mongolia’s closer ties with its neighbors can be interpreted as a strategy for geopolitical survival or pursuit of economic growth, the diminishing influence of U.S.-led democratic initiatives raises concerns about the country’s long-term commitment to democratic values. Mongolia’s increasing economic dependence on China, coupled with the one-party dominance of the MPP, suggests a potential drift toward more authoritarian governance.
For the moment then, current American diplomacy in Mongolia focus on 3 questions: 1) how to maximize the impact of US assistance as a ‘soft power’ counterbalance to Russian and Chinese influence, 2) how to convince US organizations to launch activities in Mongolia, and 3) how to ensure that US influence in Mongolia is perceived as positive for Mongolia and non-threatening to its larger neighbors.
Basketball can be a new dimension to America’s Mongolia policy that addresses all of these concerns.
Why Basketball
On a macro-level, basketball appeals to what expert Alan Wachman considered as the core of the US-Mongolian relationship: “US policy towards Mongolia is not so much about what the United States ‘gets’ by assisting as about what the United States is.“4 Basketball initiatives would not be perceived as a lever for US economic power, but, rather, a celebration of ideals that Mongolia also celebrates—perseverance, hard work, teamwork, and opportunity. China and Russia would perceive this type of influence as benign, borne from the same cultural forces that popularize basketball in their own countries rather than a seeping US influence. Even if China does see Mongolian basketball in competitive terms, it would focus on “upping its game” on the court, to the benefit of both countries. Nevertheless, with the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) losing domestic viewership and global competitiveness, China lacks the influence to make basketball a focal point in its relations with Mongolia, and would likely avoid interfering with U.S-led basketball diplomacy.
In contrast to soft power initiatives by China and Russia, the successes of Basketball Diplomacy can be portrayed as a local Mongolian success story. From the US perspective, an initiative which can hook an entire generation to embrace American culture would be a major victory.
The US can become a key player in supporting the local basketball industry by building facilities and training professionals. A rise in the quality of local basketball leagues would increase domestic viewership, domestic revenue, and marketing opportunities. Though small, it would represent a new form of economic diversification for Mongolia into sports. By cultivating local talent, Mongolia would also have the opportunity to send students overseas for education in prestigious American universities, creating a win-win situation for young Mongolians. Students on basketball scholarships could either come back to play in domestic leagues (assuming they don’t make it to the NBA) or use their American education to obtain Mongolian high skilled jobs. Either way, Basketball Diplomacy would be a local success for a generation of young Mongolians.
By cultivating its talent to showcase internationally, Mongolian basketball would bolster national pride through sport patriotism. Success in international competitions could also amplify Mongolia’s status on the world stage. In this sense, the US would not only be bolstering Mongolia’s basketball success, but also its confidence as a sovereign nation in a neighborhood dominated by China and Russia.
For US corporations like the NBA and Nike, the benefit from participating in basketball diplomacy might be small in the short term, but they would be seeding an opportunity for a larger, long-term win at relatively low cost. The NBA already participates in TV programming in Mongolia, selling live broadcast rights and supporting fan-focused Mongolian language programming. Merchandise sales, though small, penetrate the leading edge of Mongolian youth. Opportunities to monetize that fanbase will only grow with the popularity of the sport.
By boosting up local leagues, the US can draw NCAA or NBA scouts to the exceptional talent already developing in Mongolia. One could only imagine the frenzy, and business opportunity created if a Mongolian ever achieved stardom in the NCAA or NBA. Shortly after Mike Sharavjamts joined the Dayton University Fliers, the NCAA team created a Mongolian language Facebook account that quickly attracted nearly 30,000 followers.
How the US Could Build Basketball Diplomacy in Mongolia
The US Embassy in Ulaanbaatar could take a three-pronged approach to building basketball diplomacy: Improve on the programs they already run in Mongolia; partner with other successful government programs and organizations; and encourage non-government organizations to launch initiatives to popularize basketball in Mongolia.
I. Improving On What They Have
The US Embassy in Ulaanbaatar already has a few initiatives in place, both active and in the works, to promote diplomatic exchange through basketball.
Under the umbrella of English language teaching programs, the Sports Visitor Program is something the US Embassy successfully runs on a small scale. The program, which provided scholarships for five underprivileged Mongolian kids this year, invites young athletes, coaches, and administrators from around the world to the United States for sports-based exchanges. Young Mongolians participate in both basketball training and joint workshops on leadership, team building, conflict resolution, as well as inclusion and equity in sports. With more allotted funding, the Sports Visitor Program could have an even greater outreach toward rural Mongolians, incorporating players and faculty alike to enhance English language skills and provide exposure to American ideals and values.
Another, more enticing program currently underway by the US Embassy is the Sports Envoy Program, which sends professional athletes for short term visits to less developed areas. Sports envoys like NBA players would engage with young Mongolians as well as meet with senior officials to discuss efforts to improve the administration of youth basketball programs. The US embassy plans to bring Mike Sharavjamts back to Mongolia once he makes it into the NBA in 2026. If a tour is approved, Sharavjamts’ visit would not only inspire Mongolian kids, but also provide a patriotic victory for Mongolia’s national identity. For Mongolian government officials, the presence of a ‘global ambassador’ would be crucial to putting Mongolia ‘on the map,’ bringing international awareness to both Mongolian basketball and Mongolia’s geopolitical relevance.
The US Embassy in Ulaanbaatar could also re-launch social outreach programs paused during the pandemic. Public watch parties for the NCAA March Madness, the NBA Playoffs, and the US election at ‘American Corners’ and other large venues, all contributed to a halo of goodwill around American culture. Revitalizing this opportunity would help the embassy reestablish its connection with the Mongolian youth, rekindling this intimate and personal bond that feeds aspiration. By attending American watch parties young Mongolians would grow up as habitual fans of American culture, an absolute win for US soft power..
II. Partner with Other Successful Government Programs and Organizations
Beyond its in-house programs, the US Embassy in Ulaanbaatar could partner with other government organizations to support its basketball diplomacy initiatives in Mongolia..
For starters, the embassy could partner with other government organs that have created successful Mongolian projects in the past. USAID already has warm relations with the Mongolian government after collaborating to construct a half-a-billion-dollar water plant in Ulaanbaatar. Their experience navigating Mongolian bureaucracy, legal red tape, and construction on rugged terrain makes USAID an ideal candidate for basketball infrastructure projects. Using the Somalian model, USAID could use government funding to build 3×3 basketball courts in rural Mongolia and to construct training facilities in urban cities like Ulaanbaatar and Darhan. USAID could also provide basketballs, bibs, and replacement nets—equipment crucial for youth programs. The initiative would not only kickstart local basketball programs, but also promote closer collaboration between the US and Mongolia—especially on future infrastructure projects, which would provide an important diversification from the Chinese.
On a similar note, The US Embassy could collaborate with other American government organizations that already have a strong presence in Mongolia. As mentioned before, the Peace Corps historically has had impressive success in promoting US-Mongolian intercultural exchange. With various locations of operation, strong connections with local leaders, and a significant staff of volunteers, the Peace Corps would be both a cost-saving and effective foundation for staffing basketball programs in Mongolia. By employing volunteers to serve as English curriculum developers and small school basketball coaches, the Peace Corps would promote a more well rounded form of education, providing learning opportunities within and outside the classroom. The initiative would introduce a new set of American values applicable to academic and real life situations, and would improve problem-solving skills. The Peace Corps’ web of connections at the local, Aimag (provincial), and national level, would be pivotal to the US Embassy’s successful launching of Basketball Diplomacy throughout the country.
Looking at success in other countries, an interesting angle for the US Embassy would be to latch on to current momentum in Mongolian sports, especially in women’s athletics. Capitalizing off of Mongolia’s successful women’s basketball team, the US could push to include Mongolia in their Global Sports Mentoring Program (GSMP) in an effort to promote awareness on and solutions toward gender inequality in basketball. Providing professional development exchanges between prominent retired female athletes and American sports sector executives, the GSMP could develop future Mongolian leaders and create collaborative in-depth action plans to promote inclusion and gender equality in Mongolian sports. As of 2024, the GSMP has impacted 310,000 individuals from around the world, but has yet to reach Mongolia. As Mongolia seems to be trending towards an embrace of western-leaning gender-equal policies, US outreach to the Mongolian women’s basketball community would complement Mongolia’s aims. Encouraging a new generation of Mongolian female entrepreneurs for social justice, the GSMP will bring a new dimension to Mongolian Basketball Diplomac —not just one previously focused on mastering the English language or on embracing American values of perseverance and hard work, but also one championing a distinctly ‘western’ awareness on Mongolian gender inequality.
III. Encouraging Non-Governmental Organizations
Beyond the programs they run in house, the US Embassy and government agencies encourage other organizations to launch their own basketball programs. The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, for one, can act like a funding source for organizations looking to jumpstart basketball programs in Mongolia. Interested organizations would participate in the International Sports Programming Initiative (ISPI), a competition for US-based NGOs to pitch effective two-way exchanges that engage underserved youth, coaches, and sports administrators under the themes of leadership, excellence, tolerance and respect. The winners receive grants by the State Department to administer these projects in their targeted communities, which could provide a pathway for American NGOs to launch their basketball activities in Mongolia. The US Embassy in Ulaanbaatar and the Mongolian Embassy in Washington could advise NGOs in the application process, as well as back them during the approval process. Overall, the ISPI could be a way to decentralize basketball diplomacy efforts, creating a diverse portfolio of government programs, government-affiliated initiatives, and non-governmental projects all working towards the same aim.
As these programs gain traction, perhaps another, more important non-governmental actor, the NBA, could take on a more philanthropic role. Following model projects like those in Cairo, Egypt, the NBA could create basketball schools in Erdenet, Darhan, and Ulaanbaatar to attract local talent and popularize its brand across the Mongolian steppe. It must be said, however, that basketball schools are tuition-based and would only attract players from wealthier backgrounds. But if the NBA desires to attract the best Mongolian talent, they must make these schools tuition-free. Similarly, financially sponsoring young Mongolians to travel and join summer Basketball Without Borders programs could be another solution similar to the Sports Visitor Program, which aims not only to provide elite training and cultivate Mongolian talent, but also to interact with Americans and other nationalities to learn English language skills. The program would be a platform where Mongolians could reach out to the world in a more professional model, mastering both the mindset to navigate future professional worlds and an understanding of how to represent Mongolia abroad. These values could help ‘put Mongolia on the map,’ and would be crucial for Mongolia to bring awareness to their geopolitical position. Founded on goodwill, the program could shed positive light amongst Mongolians on American influence, combating Russian and Chinese counter-narratives. In addition, seeing their countrymen playing overseas could unite divisive political factions under the banner of national pride. The concept of “Basketball as unifier” could underpin support for basketball initiatives under any political regime, but also ensure the US enjoys recognition as a factor in bridging political divides.
But perhaps the biggest impact the NBA could have on Mongolians is through branding and communication, specifically its expertise in social media and TV programming. Beyond streaming live games, the NBA could expand its current deals with Mongolian TV to include initiatives proven successful in other developing markets. Following their successful Chinese reality show, “Mengniu NBA Basketball Disciple,” the NBA could collaborate with Mongolian TV channels and create a countrywide competition for youth hoopsters. The winners would earn a tryout with an NBA Developmental League team and a chance to play in the US. MongolTV would be best suited to produce this show, having recently hosted the big “Candidate 2024” Parliamentary election competition. Considering that around 80% of Mongolians, including nomads and herders, have access to satellite TV and Facebook, the TV program would be a fast and effective way to reach out to Mongolians of all stripes. Mixing admiration for American basketball values with traditional Mongolian scenes and storylines, the show could also attract a high level of viewership and attention. The show would also introduce a new hybrid view of Mongolian traditions intersecting with the American values of resiliency, hard work, and perseverance all to create a successful outcome. While the NBA’s social media programming would highlight American values, its lack of corporate presence in Mongolia would also mitigate Mongolian skepticisms of American corporate greed. Taking into account basketball’s popularity from Ulaanbaatar to Mongolia’s smallest Baghs, the NBA would only help improve Mongolian perceptions of American presence.
Bringing the NBA Global Games — a series of exhibition matches normally held in countries with rapidly developing basketball programs like France, Japan, China and Mexico—to Mongolia could be another way to bring popular fervor to the sport and American ideals. If the State Department could attract an NBA team to briefly peel off from an Asia tour to play a game in Ulaanbaatar against all stars from Mongolia’s “The League,” it would also be a major win for US soft power.
Obstacles and Solutions: What Must Be Done?
The many options described above leave one optimistic about the potential for Diplomacy through Basketball, but the challenges to launch those initiatives should not be underestimated. Among the key success factors are 1. Aligning a diverse set of Mongolian and US stakeholders around the initiatives; 2. Identifying champions to create support among Mongolian decision makers; and 3. Raising funding and other forms of support from domestic and international partners
Creating a productive dialogue between US and Mongolian delegations will be an important and arduous process. Pushing for Basketball Diplomacy would not just involve the State Department and the Mongolian Sports Ministry, but would also include the Mongolian Basketball Association, the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, the Peace Corps, and maybe even the NBA. While each stakeholder might join the project with its own unique agenda in mind, they would all have to align around common operating principles and program goals. In practical terms, the obstacles posed by geography, distance and communication (Mongolians are hard to reach by email) would add levels of complexity. If all parties are motivated, those obstacles can be overcome, but the Mongolian side will have to see clear enough benefits to be fully engaged. Considering the long list of US geopolitical priorities, US policy makers will need assurances that Mongolia will be a proactive partner.
In order for Basketball Diplomacy to gain attention from any of the organizations above, there must be an influential figure endorsing this project. While a charismatic communicator like the current US Ambassador, Richard Buangan, could push for Mongolian Basketball Diplomacy on a policy level, the project must have big-name athletic ambassadors that promote the deal on a public level. For example, Loul Deng’s role as an NBA star was crucial to securing US funding for basketball leagues and development programs in South Sudan, which put them on a path to nearly defeating the US men’s team at last year’s Olympics.
In the case of Mongolian basketball, Mike Sharavjamts seems destined to take on this role, especially if he’s drafted into the NBA. Though still young, he already represents a bridge between American and Mongolian culture, bringing awareness about Mongolia to Americans while also representing the reality of the “American Dream” to many aspiring Mongolian youth. Therefore, he would be the ideal champion for this type of Mongolian-American Basketball Diplomacy. Sharavjamts seems to have this ambition as well, noting to the San Francisco Chronicler that he hopes to create his own basketball academy in Mongolia when he retires.
Beyond a Mongolian icon like Sharavjamts, American players who have played in Mongolia could also add starpower to the initiative. Stephen Sir, one of the all-time 3-point scoring leaders in NCAA history, could be an instrumental figure in pushing for 3×3 basketball initiatives in Mongolia, as he was once a player-coach of the Mongolia 3×3 basketball team. The fifteen Americans currently playing in Mongolia could also make Americans aware of “The League,” highlighting both the talent of young Mongolian players and the league’s development potential. These figures would not only bring the attention of Mongolians but could also bring previously unenthusiastic Americans to the table.
Securing funding has been a persistent challenge for past programs, but it can be addressed through upweighting basketball diplomacy on both the US and Mongolian sides. The Mongolian government—whether through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Great Hural, or the Executive branch—could incorporate Basketball Diplomacy into its Vision 2050 policy plan for national development.5 This would not only put basketball in the national spotlight, but also fund programs to solicit the participation of foreign governments, including the U.S.
Building on previous collaborative efforts, the government could partner with local conglomerates like MCS to construct large-scale basketball infrastructure. The role of US partners, then, could focus exclusively on staffing, management and other elements that make the program authentically American.
Beyond this, the Mongolian government can leverage its proven social media expertise to create a halo of domestic and international support around basketball programs. The country’s global tourism campaign, “MonGOlia” reached 155 million consumers, attracted 650,000 tourists, and generated $1.2 billion in revenue. A similar effort around basketball could rally international stakeholders to invest, but also convince US lawmakers to fund government programs aimed at pursuing soft power through sport diplomacy. In this era of tension between the US and Mongolia’s two large neighbors – China and Russia – congress might see Basketball Diplomacy as a quick, effective and invulnerable way to build America’s influence in a region that’s otherwise leaning away.
Conclusion
As the United States gradually loses influence in East Asia, Basketball Diplomacy presents a compelling solution to sustain its presence in the region. Basketball, the most popular sport in Mongolia, holds particular appeal for the country’s media-savvy youth—arguably its future leaders. It provides the U.S. with an opportunity to showcase core values such as perseverance, teamwork, and opportunity, helping to shed its reputation as a meddler in local affairs. Crucially, Basketball Diplomacy is non-threatening to Mongolia’s assertive neighbors, China and Russia, creating a soft power lever that the U.S. can exploit unopposed.
Basketball Diplomacy also aligns with Mongolia’s goals of building geopolitical relevance and enhancing its soft power. By leveraging basketball’s global appeal, Mongolia can boost its visibility on the world stage and foster national pride.
With a strong history of using cultural diplomacy to win hearts and minds, the U.S. has the potential to make basketball initiatives in Mongolia highly successful under the following conditions:
1. Revitalization of Existing Programs: The U.S. Embassy must reinvigorate current basketball initiatives, collaborate with broader U.S. government agencies, and engage third-party organizations.
2. Key Ambassadors: engage champions like Mike Sharavjamts and Stephen Sir to serve as project ambassadors to generate awareness and momentum for the project.
3. Government Support: The Mongolian government should integrate basketball diplomacy into its Vision 2050 strategy, enhancing communication between government branches and collaborating with U.S. organizations to ensure collective planning and execution.
Basketball Diplomacy offers the U.S. a subtle yet effective way to counteract its declining presence in East Asia while challenging Chinese and Russian cultural and ideological influence. Moreover, it could serve as a model for similar initiatives in South East Asia, Africa, Middle East where basketball is highly aspirational to a generation of future leaders and the US risks losing influence to emerging global powers.
With a new U.S. administration focused on curbing China’s influence, Basketball Diplomacy could create a soft power beachhead in a region where China and Russia dominate, and a “W” for the U.S. and Mongolia, on and off the court.
This piece was adapted from a concept piece written by the same author in early September: https://blogs.ubc.ca/mongolia/2024/guest-post-us-soft-power-basketball/“
Featured/Headline Image Caption and Citation: Two children play basketball close to Yolyn Am, taken on July 5, 2015 | Image sourced from Flickr | CC License, no changes made
- Alicia Campi, Mongolia’s Foreign Policy Navigating a Changing World, pg. 91.
*SOCO International is now Pharos Energy ↩︎ - Ts, Suvdantsetseg, and Mendee Jargalsaikhan, Changing Soft Power Dynamics in Mongolia, Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, 2022, pg. 5. ↩︎
- When describing US soft power successes on page 175 and from pages 181-186, there is no mention of American corporate presence. Similar patterns are noted in Ts, Suvdantsetseg and Mendee Jargalsaikhan’s Changing Soft Power Dynamics in Mongolia on pg. 5-6. ↩︎
- Gantulga, Tuvshinzaya. “Beyond Horses and the Frontier: Mongolia-United States Relations.” Mongolian Geopolitics, Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, Ulaanbaatar, Select Option, pg. 237–254. https://library.fes.de/pdf-files/bueros/mongolei/19651.pdf pg. 241. ↩︎
- Government of Mongolia, Vision-2050: Introduction to Mongolia’s Long-Term Development Policy Document. There are no mentions of specific basketball or sports development initiatives. ↩︎