The Third Neighbor Policy is a facet of foreign relations of Mongolia referring to its building relationships with countries other than the Russian Federation and the People's Republic of China, two superpowers that historically had a sphere of influence extending to the country. The economy of Mongolia is dependent on exploitation of the country's mineral resources, which include copper, gold, uranium and coal, and thus the country is vulnerable to pressure from foreign countries and corporations involved in resource extraction. Countries that have been characterized as "third neighbors" include the United States, South Korea, France and other developed nations.