Despite an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court, Vladimir Putin will travel to Mongolia, a member state of the jurisdiction, on September 3.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, who is the target of an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant for the “illegal deportation” of Ukrainian children, will visit ICC member state Mongolia next Tuesday on its territory.
“Vladimir Putin will pay an official visit to Mongolia on September 3,” the Kremlin said in a statement on Thursday. It will be the first visit by a Russian president to a state that has signed the Rome Statute since the ICC issued an arrest warrant against him in March 2023.
Roadblock in South Africa
Mongolia signed the Rome Statute in 2000, before ratifying it in 2002, requiring each member state to arrest any person on its soil who is the subject of an ICC arrest warrant, which is the case of Vladimir Putin.
The Kremlin has always steadfastly rejected ICC charges against Russian President and former Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and former Chief of Staff Valery Gerasimov.
However, Vladimir Putin has been careful for almost a year and a half to avoid traveling abroad, for example skipping the BRICS summit in South Africa in August 2023.
On the other hand, he notably visited China last May, North Korea in June, and even Azerbaijan in mid-August, none of which are members of the ICC.
Celebrating the victory against Japan
In Mongolia, the Russian head of state is going to participate in celebrations of the 85th anniversary of the joint victory of the Soviet and Mongolian armed forces over the Japanese militarists “at the invitation of Mongolian President Ukhna Kurelchuk, according to the Kremlin.” “During the 1939 Kalkin Cole War.
The two leaders have planned talks and will “discuss prospects for the development of Russian-Mongolian relations”, according to the Kremlin.
Vladimir Putin and Ukhna Kurelchuk will “exchange their views on current international and regional issues”, added the Russian presidency, according to which “a number of bilateral documents” will be signed on the occasion.
The last visit of the Russian president to Mongolia was in September 2019.
Natural resources
Mongolia, a country rich in natural resources, is located in East Asia, is landlocked between Russia and China, and has a vast land area (three times the size of mainland France). However, it has a population of only 3.4 million.
In early August, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken traveled to the Mongolian capital of Ulaanbaatar to appear with “a key partner” of Washington.
The visit is part of America’s desire to increase its influence in this vast country, which is favored by its Russian and Chinese rivals.
French President Emmanuel Macron also visited Mongolia in May 2023, with whom Paris wants to strengthen bilateral ties on energy matters.
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