The enthronement of Öljeitü as Ghazan's successor coincided with the establishment of a general peace among the Chinggisid princes. Öljeitü's relationship with the Grand Qan must therefore be placed, first of all, within the context of these important developments.

As noted previously, the conflict between Ariq Böke and Qubilai provided dissident lines an opportunity to seek independence and pursue individual interests. The result was frequent warfare between the four regional qanates. The Golden Horde and the Hülegüids clashed over territories in Caucasia in 1262–63, 1265, 1288, and 1290. Meanwhile, in the East the Ögödeid/Chaghadaid coalition led by Qaidu launched attacks on Qubilai's forces in Mongolia and Uighuristan in 1268, 1275, 1286, and 1290. Initially, the Jochids, whose territories extended into central Siberia, supported or were at least on friendly terms with Qaidu and in general sympathy with his efforts to topple Qubilai. This, however, began to change in the 1280s when the eastern wing of the Golden Horde, increasingly fearful of their powerful and aggressive neighbors, Qaidu and Du'a, made a number of overtures to their cousins in China and Iran. In consequence, enmity between the Jochids and Hülegüids ended so that they could concentrate their attention on the more immediate threat posed by the coalition in central Asia.