The more closely one looks at Mongolia, the clearer it becomes that Australia is not just a close partner; it may well be the model Mongolia has been circling all along. Both governments should focus on shifting from ad hoc cooperation to a structured strategic partnership that links resources, defence, climate and education. Mongolia contributed troops to missions in Afghanistan and Iraq, trains peacekeepers with Australia and aligns with global rules and norms. Mongolia has not adopted an Australia strategy, nor has Canberra launched a grand Mongolia initiative. For Mongolia, that counterpart may be Australia, a democracy that shares its values, mirrors its economic structure and increasingly sees its future in the same region.