When Genghis Khan died in 1227, his empire stretched from Beijing to the Caspian Sea.
Eight centuries later, Mongolia’s global influence has waned considerably, but the landlocked country sandwiched between China and Russia continues to fascinate and excite visitors from across the globe.
Shockingly, the 19th biggest country in the world is populated by just over three million people. To put that in context, Iran, the 18th biggest country in the world and has a population of just under 90 million.
Such is the nomadic nature of life in Mongolia, approximately 30 percent of the population is nomadic or semi-nomadic, that horses vastly outnumber humans. It is believed that there are around 13 horses for every person in the country.
Animals shape the Mongolian economy where sheep, goats, cattle, horses, and camels produce meat, dairy products, hides, and wool – especially cashmere.
The nation is rich in natural resources, with significant investment by mining companies in the country’s south shaping Mongolia’s current boom and economic future.
The Mongolian climate is harsh, with very little rainfall and wide seasonal temperature variations. Warm short summers, contrast with long, dry, and bitterly cold winters which see some temperatures in parts of the country plunge to as low as -50C between December and February.
Such is its location, landlocked between two industrial giants in Russia and China, Mongolia has to balance its relationship carefully.
There is growing resentment within the country towards the influx of entrepreneurial Chinese, some of whom have settled permanently.
Generally, relations with Russia are much more cordial driven in large parts by a shared cultural heritage of minority groups including Kazakhs and Dorvods with the Soviet Union and a long history of close ties between the two nations.
Mongolia has recently drawn significant criticism from Western countries over its failure to arrest Russian President Vladimir Putin during his visit to the country.
Putin received a red carpet welcome as he arrived in the country, despite an arrest warrant relating to alleged war crimes in Ukraine being out for the Russian president.
The ICC has accused Putin of being responsible for the abductions of children from Ukraine.
The arrest warrant obliges member states, of which Mongolia is one, to arrest the Russian President and transfer him to the Hague if he enters their territory.
Human Rights Watch recently said: “Mongolia would be defying its international obligations as an ICC member if it allows Russian president Vladimir Putin to visit without arresting him.”
But given that Mongolia relies on Russia for 95 percent of its petroleum products and has thus far abstained from publicly criticising Russia for its invasion, the prospect of an arrest was never likely.
