EAEU–Mongolia cooperation: new opportunities and challenges for Russia

The article analyzes the process of formation and development of EAEU–Mongolia relations through the prism of Russian interests; it examines interaction priorities, identifies growth drivers and challenges for bilateral relations. It is demonstrated that current cooperation between Russia/EAEU and Mongolia cannot be assessed simply by foreign trade economic indicators. More applicable is the assessment from the point of view of Mongolia’s geopolitical significance for the Russian Federation and the EAEU, and Russia demonstrates its readiness to act as an integrator in Eurasian-Mongolian relations within the framework of the Greater Eurasian Partnership (GEP) project. However, with regard to the growing influence of China, the United States and EU in Mongolia, which have advantages in institutional terms, Russia’s priority task is to fill the GEP with specific projects and initiatives in the areas in which the country has historically been competitive.