Kremlin-Linked Businessman Joined Donald Trump Jr. on Mongolian Hunting Trip This Summer – FT www.themoscowtimes.com

Donald Trump Jr. spent two days this summer in a remote Mongolian hunting camp with Umar Kremlev, a Russian businessman with close ties to the Kremlin, the Financial Times reported Tuesday.

Kremlev was previously revealed to have partly funded Trump Jr.’s wedding on a private Caribbean island in May. U.S. President Donald Trump later said his son repaid Kremlev for those expenses after they were reported by ProPublica last month.

Their latest known meeting took place in western Mongolia, according to flight records and local guides cited by the FT, where Trump Jr. was hunting wild game accompanied by a U.S. Secret Service protective detail.

Kremlev was said to have flown from a boxing press conference in Kazakhstan to the Mongolian capital of Ulaanbaatar on a private jet before traveling directly to Trump Jr.’s camp.

A local on that trip told the FT that Trump Jr. and Kremlev were cautious about being photographed together.

Trump Jr.’s Mongolian expedition was partially funded through a charity auction that paid winning bidders up to $140,000 for access to the president’s son. 

Experts, including former U.S. counterintelligence officials, told the FT that personal contacts between the relatives of American presidents and those with links to the Kremlin pose serious security risks.

Kremlev is under Ukrainian sanctions due to his ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin through Alexei Rubezhny, head of the Kremlin leader’s security service.

Trump Jr.’s spokesperson told the FT that his friendship with Kremlev “is largely based on their shared love for hunting, fishing and the outdoors.”

“Don has made clear that he has a personal friendship, not a business relationship, with Umar… It shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone that they went hunting together earlier this year,” the spokesperson was quoted as saying.

Kremlev, who heads the International Boxing Association (IBA), did not respond to the FT’s requests for comment.

Mongolia Eyes a Non-Permanent Seat on the UNSC – in 2048 www.thediplomat.com

In September, during the 81st United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), the Mongolian President Khurelsukh Ukhnaa announced Mongolia’s official candidacy for a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council for the 2048-2049 term. With Mongolia’s track record in contribution to the U.N. global missions and its growing commitment, Ulaanbaatar believes that it may have the qualification to gain such an opportunity. That’s not unusual; what’s odd is the lengthy timeline involved.

During his speech to the UNGA, Khurelsukh reflected on and reiterated Mongolia’s multipilared foreign policy objectives. He noted that Mongolia supports United Nations reform, peacekeeping operations, sustainable development goals, and has a special interest in landlocked developing countries. 

This year, Mongolia’s Permanent Representative to the U.N. Ambassador Ankhbayar Nyamdorj served as one of the vice presidents of the 81st UNGA. Mongolia also chaired the Asia-Pacific States Group this June for the election of the General Assembly. 

Despite Mongolia’s many contributions to the United Nations, as Khurelsukh pointed out, the country is “one of the 58 states that have never served as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council.”

At first glance, announcing Mongolia’s candidacy for a seat more than two decades away may seem unusually distant. But the announcement serves to promulgate Mongolia’s deeper commitment to international engagement as an active and responsible player on the world stage. The goal of serving on the UNSC in 2048-2049 cements Mongolia’s longstanding multilateral diplomacy as a concrete, long-term objective. 

Mongolia’s contributions to the United Nations have been growing since gaining membership status in 1961. Mongolia’s engagement with the U.N. and U.N.-led missions have diversified and expanded over time, making Ulaanbaatar an unquestionably active member of the global organization. 

Since 2002, Mongolian “Blue Helmets” – U.N. peacekeepers, including both military, and police contingents – have served in diverse conflict zones around the world: Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC), South Sudan (UNMISS), Abyei Region (UNISFA), Western Sahara (MINURSO), Lebanon (UNIFIL), Central African Republic (MINUSCA), and Cyprus (UNFICYP). In total, Mongolia has deployed 21,000 peacekeepers. 

As of July 2026, the latest data update from the U.N., Mongolia had 548 active military and police personnel deployed to U.N. peacekeeping operations. That makes Mongolia the 24th largest contributor of peacekeepers in the world. It’s even more impressive given Mongolia’s relatively small population. On a per capita basis, Mongolia is the third largest contributor, behind only Rwanda and Uruguay.  

In June, Mongolian peacekeepers and contingents received U.N. medals for their contribution in civilian protection and safety in conflict zones. Mongolia is planning to host international conference on women in UN peacekeeping in 2027. 

In recent years, Mongolia has also adopted and actively promoted the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals. With issues of climate change taking center stage in the U.N., Mongolia stepped up its game and hosted COP17 to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) this summer. 

Moreover, Mongolia’s continued commitment to its nuclear-weapon-free status has received recognition through the U.N. General Assembly. Mongolia’s Ulaanbaatar Dialogue on Northeast Asian Security serves as a recognized platform for regional and global actors to discuss nuclearization and proliferation issues. 

Taken individually, none of these initiatives would guarantee Mongolia a Security Council seat. Taken together, with Mongolia’s track record of U.N. contributions, they form the foundation of the case. These active engagements within the U.N. framework serve as an important element for Mongolia’s multilateral diplomacy, opening diverse cooperation mechanisms that are supported by Mongolia’s multi-pillared foreign policy. 

The choice of 2048-2049 as a target date may appear unusually distant, but UNSC candidacies are often planned far in advance. Mongolia will compete for one of the seats allocated to the Asia-Pacific Group, which holds two of the Council’s 10 rotating non-permanent seats. One Asia-Pacific seat normally comes up for election each year. 

Unlike some regional groups, however, the Asia-Pacific Group does not have a formally established rotation system for its Security Council seats. Therefore, countries have to plan their candidacies around other declared and anticipated candidates. Each would-be UNSC member must make an assessment of when they have the highest chance of being selected.

For Mongolia, 2048-2049 emerged as the first viable opening in that longer-term regional calendar. The distant date thus illustrates how far ahead states must think when seeking representation on one of the U.N.’s most consequential bodies. Even so, Mongolia’s attempt to “reserve” a seat may not work. The competitive landscape could change considerably over the next two decades, as any country could throw its hat into the ring. 

Under the U.N. Charter, non-permanent Security Council members are elected by the General Assembly for two-year terms, with attention given both to contributions to international peace and security and to equitable geographical distribution. Election requires a two-thirds majority of members present and voting. To reach that goal, Mongolia must continue building the substance behind its candidacy. 

As of now, it’s not clear what agenda Mongolia would like to highlight in its candidacy. For comparison, Kyrgyzstan was elected to its first non-permanent stint on the UNSC in July. Its campaign, as Oliver Fisk noted for The Diplomat at the time, “prioritized four key areas of focus: conflict prevention; promoting the sustainable development of mountainous, less developed, and small-island states; nuclear disarmament; and support for U.N. reform.”

The basis for a Mongolian campaign can already be guessed at. Its consistent support for U.N. peacekeeping missions and its call for nuclear disarmament will likely bolster Mongolia’s diplomatic identity. In addition, Mongolia can be expected to highlight issues that already form the focal points for its U.N.  engagement, such as advocacy for landlocked countries; issues related to the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda; climate and desertification issues; and regional dialogue. Mongolia’s track record on these issues will bolster Ulaanbaatar’s bid to gain a non-permanent seat at the UNSC in 2048-2049. 

There are risks involved with a seat on the U.N.’s most powerful body. Mongolia has spent much of its post-Cold War foreign policy attempting to preserve room for maneuver between its two large neighbors while expanding relations with “third neighbors” and multilateral institutions. A seat on the Security Council would place Mongolia directly inside difficult debates over wars, sanctions, and geopolitical disputes involving major powers. 

If elected to the UNSC, Ulaanbaatar could face pressure to take visible positions on issues concerning Russia, China, the United States, or their respective partners. The same membership that would expand Mongolia’s international influence could therefore make its traditional balancing act considerably more challenging.

Khurelsukh launched Mongolia’s candidacy, but he will be long out of office when the election takes place more than 20 years later. That said, Mongolia’s approach to the United Nations is not dependent on changing governments but rather a foreign policy strategy that is approved by Mongolia’s legislative branch and executed at the government and agency level. Since Mongolia jointed the U.N. in 1961, its relationship with the U.N. has moved on the same trajectory, toward deeper contributions and engagement. The long-term test will be whether Mongolia can convert its international initiatives into sustained institutional influence and durable partnerships across successive governments.

Mongolia will have more than two decades to build support and strengthen its diplomatic record, but the campaign will also have to survive several presidents, governments, and foreign ministers, as well as shifting geopolitics and competing domestic interests. 

As a relatively small, landlocked state situated between Russia and China, Mongolia has limited ability to shape the strategic environment around it through hard power. International institutions, a diverse set of diplomatic partners, and participation in multilateral initiatives have provided Ulaanbaatar with additional political space beyond the constraints of its geographic location. The bid for a Security Council seat fits naturally within this approach. 
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Bolor Lkhaajav
Bolor Lkhaajav is a researcher specializing in Mongolia, China, Russia, Japan, East Asia, and the Americas. She holds an M.A. in Asia-Pacific Studies from the University of San Francisco.

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Munkh-Orgil Enebish
Munkh-Orgil Enebish is an analyst and Founder and CEO of Arctus Analytics, an Ulaanbaatar-based political and policy research firm.

Korea to pilot group tourist visas for Mongolian nationals www.koreaherald.com

South Korea will launch a one-year pilot program Friday offering group tourist visas to Mongolian nationals, the Justice Ministry said Wednesday.

The C-3-2 visas will be available to groups of at least five tourists whose trips are arranged by one of seven travel agencies designated by the Korean Embassy in Ulaanbaatar. Visa holders can stay for up to 15 days for tourism.

The pilot will primarily target corporate incentive trips, training-related group tours and school excursions.

Mongolia will become the seventh country covered by the group tourist visa scheme, joining countries including China and Indonesia, according to a ministry official.

The Korea Immigration Service said it would screen participants in advance to prevent people subject to entry restrictions or with a history of overstaying from using the program.

Designated travel agencies could face administrative sanctions if participants leave their tour groups without authorization.

"This pilot program will simplify entry procedures for Mongolian nationals and help promote people-to-people exchanges and tourism between the two countries," acting Justice Minister Lee Jin-soo said.

Lee said the ministry would evaluate the pilot before deciding whether to expand its scope.

seungku99@heraldcorp.com

TECROWD closes ¥1.3B Mongolia property fund at 16.5% target yield www.app.dealroom.co

What's the deal? Japanese real estate crowdfunding platform TECROWD has fully subscribed its No.104 fund, "Mongolia Premium Residence 'Edelmont' #05," reaching its roughly ¥1.2708 billion target shortly after general subscriptions opened on October 26. The fund, run by Yokohama-based operator TECRA, offered an indicated annual yield of 16.5% over a planned 12-month term.

What's the endgame? The money finances the C building — 38 apartments — in the second phase of the Edelmont project, a roughly 15-hectare suburban development about 30 minutes by car from central Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. TECROWD buys the units mid-construction and sells them to the local developer after completion, generating dividends and principal repayment from that sale.

Why now? The close extends a run of fully subscribed Edelmont offerings: TECROWD98 was marketed at 14% and TECROWD102 at 15.5%, both filled in full. TECRA has worked in Mongolia for more than a decade and began organising Edelmont funds in May 2025, citing a young population and housing supply that lags demand — Ulaanbaatar new-build prices rose about 11.9% year on year, per the national statistics committee.

What could go wrong? The 16.5% figure is a projection, not a guarantee. Returns hinge on construction completion and the sale to the developer, leaving investors exposed to project, buyer, and recovery risks. A subordinated tranche absorbs initial losses and all contracts are yen-denominated to hedge currency risk, but losses beyond that cushion would hit investor principal.

The signal: The speed of the close points to persistent appetite among retail investors — the minimum ticket is ¥100,000 — for high-yield overseas property exposure. But a rapid subscription reflects demand, not delivered returns: the earlier Edelmont funds remain in operation.

Read more: prtimes.jp

Wildfires Burn 76.4% of Numrug Strictly Protected Area www.montsame.mn

A total of 448,993.6 hectares, or 76.4% of the 587,744.1-hectare Numrug Strictly Protected Area in Khalkhgol soum, Dornod aimag, was affected by a wildfire that broke out on October 8.

The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change of Mongolia also officially confirmed that an additional 55,966.8 hectares outside the protected area were affected by the fire.

According to satellite mapping based on Sentinel-2 data with a spatial resolution of 10 meters, the total area affected by the wildfire around the Numrug Strictly Protected Area reached 504,960.4 hectares.

The mapping was carried out using satellite data by the Satellite Applications and Remote Sensing Division of the Institute of Meteorology, Hydrology, and Environmental Research under the National Agency for Meteorology and Environmental Monitoring.

A working group tasked with assessing the impact caused by the wildfire in the Numrug Strictly Protected Area includes forensic experts and specialists in forestry and plant research. The working group has arranged the necessary equipment and power supply and is conducting fieldwork at designated locations using two helicopters.

The HU Performs at UNESCO Headquarters to Promote Peace www.montsame.mn

Mongolian band “The Hu” performed at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris under the theme “Pump Up the Volume for Peace,” promoting peace, cultural diversity and mutual understanding through music.

The band showcased its signature “Hunnu rock” genre, blending traditional Mongolian instruments and throat singing with modern rock music to introduce international audiences to Mongolia’s history and cultural heritage.

Designated a UNESCO Artist for Peace in 2022, The HU uses its music to foster dialogue among cultures, encourage respect for diverse traditions and promote peace and solidarity.

The performance at UNESCO headquarters further advanced the band’s mission to share Mongolia’s musical heritage with the world while supporting UNESCO’s efforts to safeguard cultural heritage and promote mutual understanding. 

Mongolia Proposes Four Areas of Cooperation on Water-Saving Agriculture at SCO Roundtable www.montsame.mn

A roundtable on modern agriculture development was held on October 25 in Yangling, Shaanxi Province, China, as part of the 33rd Yangling Agricultural High-Tech Fair.

The roundtable focused on promoting practical cooperation in water-saving agriculture in the arid regions of member states by leveraging the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) agricultural base platform.

Jambaltseren Tumur-Uya, State Secretary of the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Light Industry, presented Mongolia’s policies, challenges, and potential solutions for conserving water and increasing food production across the country, according to the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Light Industry.

He noted that approximately 76% of Mongolia’s territory consists of arid and semi-arid areas, while only 45–50% of its 112 million hectares of pastureland has access to water. The concentration of livestock in areas with adequate water supplies leads to overgrazing and accelerates land degradation. The state secretary emphasized that this long-standing challenge cannot be resolved simply by drilling more deep wells. Given the limited groundwater resources and the high economic costs of drilling, energy supply and maintenance, he called for a shift from seeking new water sources to conserving existing water resources.

Four Areas of Cooperation Proposed

State Secretary Jambaltseren proposed four areas of cooperation to SCO member states:

Sharing proven water-saving technologies suitable for arid regions;
Implementing joint pilot projects in Mongolia;
Developing human resources through training and specialist exchange programs for engineers, technical personnel and herders;
Expanding successful pilot projects into tangible investment projects with the participation of the public and private sectors and financial institutions.
He stressed that water is not an unlimited resource for countries with arid regions and water scarcity. Every drop saved can contribute significantly to food production, pastureland protection, and strengthening the resilience of rural communities to climate change.

He also expressed Mongolia’s readiness to work with SCO partners to turn water-related challenges into opportunities for innovation and sustainable agricultural development.

National Initiative Planned

Mongolia is developing a national initiative to improve water supply for pasturelands through water storage technologies. The initiative aims to promote environmentally friendly solutions on a wider scale, including the construction of small reservoirs and ponds, the protection of springs, and the installation of water supply systems powered by solar and wind energy in remote pastures.

Under the initiative, Mongolia plans to develop a five-year program to improve pasture water supply through water storage technologies and to identify at least 500 potential sites nationwide using geographic information systems, and construct 20–30 pilot facilities in desert, steppe, forest-steppe, and mountainous regions.

The pilot projects will help determine which technologies are most effective, their costs and benefits for herders, while also strengthening the skills of engineers, technical specialists, and herders, and encouraging the participation of women and young people.

Lukashenko: Belarus, Mongolia share mutual desire to imbue their friendly relations with practical content www.sb.by

Welcoming Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh and the representative Mongolian delegation, the Head of State recalled that two years ago he had paid a visit to Ulaanbaatar – the first one at the highest level in the history of bilateral relations.

“That visit left me with the most positive impressions. The communication in the hospitable Mongolian capital helped formulate the joint interests of the parties and outline a plan for achieving priority goals. Today we will exchange instruments of ratification of the Treaty on Friendly Relations and Co-operation, which was signed two years ago. We share a mutual desire to imbue our friendly relations with practical content and to bring our peoples even closer together. Moreover, we will celebrate the 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations in 2027. Therefore, I am confident that the visit of the Mongolian delegation headed by you, dear friend, will be as productive as possible,” the Belarusian leader said.

Aleksandr Lukashenko noted that Minsk and Ulaanbaatar have a similar geopolitical position: both countries are located between the world’s major players. “It is our destiny to strive to be strong ourselves and to help our neighbours find common ground, especially during crisis periods. You have it easier in this regard now: China and Russia are co-operating exemplarily. It is more difficult for us: as has happened more than once in the history of Belarus, we find ourselves at the epicentre of the confrontation between the West and the East. Therefore, we understand each other very well. Hence the alignment of Belarus’ and Mongolia’s views on many international issues and the attention you are paying to our initiative on security in Eurasia,” he added.

Mongolia PM describes massive steppe fire in E. Mongolia as serious matter www.thestar.com.my

Mongolian Prime Minister Nyam-Osor Uchral on Monday described a massive steppe fire in eastern Mongolia, allegedly sparked by a convoy operated by a Japanese-invested company, as a serious matter.

The fire broke out on Oct. 8 in the core zone of the Numrug Strictly Protected Area in Dornod Province, and was fully extinguished on Oct. 16. Preliminary investigations suggest that the fire may have been sparked by a convoy operated by Mobicom, a Mongolian telecommunications company with Japanese investment.

"About 80 percent of the Numrug Strictly Protected Area has been affected by the fire. This is not simply a matter of land being burned. It is a serious loss of Mongolia's pristine natural environment, rare wildlife and plant species, and natural heritage that we must preserve for future generations," Uchral said.

"No one should be allowed to escape accountability for the damage. The investigation must establish who authorized entry into the protected area, for what purpose, who was responsible for ensuring fire safety, and what measures were taken after the fire broke out. Any issues related to Mobicom's operations must also be investigated in accordance with the law and based on evidence," he stressed.

Uchral also emphasized that the government supports foreign investment, but that this does not exempt investors from legal obligations or accountability.

"Anyone operating in Mongolia must comply with Mongolian laws and regulations," he said.

The prime minister instructed Tsend Sandag-Ochir, minister of environment and climate change, to have the affected land, destroyed vegetation, damaged wildlife habitats and overall environmental losses assessed by relevant specialists and to develop a restoration plan.

Strengthening social protection amid rising costs
He also instructed Ganzorig Temuulen, minister of justice and internal affairs, to ensure that officials who had failed to properly perform their duties in accordance with the law were held accountable.

The Numrug Strictly Protected Area is one of eastern Mongolia's best-preserved natural ecosystems and provides habitat for a wide range of wildlife, including rare and endangered species.

According to the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, the fire scorched approximately 530,000 hectares of land, including about 470,000 hectares within the protected area, equivalent to 79.8 percent of the reserve's total area.

Only about 30 percent of the burned area is accessible to vehicles and heavy equipment. A team tasked with reaching the remaining 70 percent is scheduled to depart Ulan Bator by air on Tuesday. - Xinhua 

Japan gov't responds for 1st time to Mongolia grassland fire www.xinhuanet.com

The Japanese government said Monday it takes seriously a massive steppe fire that broke out in Mongolia earlier this month in connection with activities by a Japanese telecom firm's subsidiary, local media reported.

"We extend our heartfelt sympathies to the Mongolian people," Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara told a press conference in Tokyo, adding that Japan will maintain close communication with Mongolia and cooperate in efforts to restore the damaged area.

The blaze erupted on Oct. 8 in the Numrug Strictly Protected Area in Dornod Province, eastern Mongolia. The flames were fully extinguished on Oct. 16 after eight days of round-the-clock operations by Mongolian emergency teams.

On Oct. 20, Japanese telecommunications giant KDDI acknowledged that the fire was linked to activities by its Mongolian subsidiary Mobicom, in which senior Japanese executives participated.

Preliminary data released by Mongolia's Ministry of Environment and Climate Change showed that the fire had scorched about 530,000 hectares of land, including some 470,000 hectares within the Numrug Strictly Protected Area, accounting for 79.8 percent of the reserve's total area.

Experts said the fire may have affected not only grasslands but also riverbanks, wetlands and other ecosystems, with its broader environmental impact requiring a comprehensive assessment.