President of Mongolia Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh's recent summons of senior officials to address Ulaanbaatar's persistent air pollution has ignited a flurry of political speculation, obscuring the already murky atmosphere. While the ostensible aim is environmental remediation, the timing and pointed nature of the presidential intervention suggest deeper strategic calculations are at play. This move follows Mr. Khurelsukh's November veto of the 2025 government budget, subsequently revised by parliament in early December 2024.
Two principal interpretations dominate discussions within Mongolia's political circles.