35

Center for International security Research Fellow Dmitry Stefanovich commented on the Russian vision for Mongolia within regional organizations framework for the South China Morning Post:

"Moscow’s reaching out to Mongolia stemmed from its chairmanship of the SCO this year, “so some ambitious initiatives are important”.

Russia was keen to welcome Mongolia into the SCO because Ulan Bator’s military received Russian arms and took part in joint military exercises, Stefanovich said, giving the example of the Selenga drills which have been held annually since 2008 and were most recently held in August last year.

Stefanovich added that in Mongolia, Moscow’s influence served as a counterweight to those of the US and China."

Full Text