Upon gaining independence from France in 1960, Mauritania applied for membership of the United Nations, but saw its application fail due to the Soviet Union using its veto in the Security Council.

The first of these objectives led to the replacement of licensing and royalties agreements with foreign operators by newly formed Mauritanian-controlled joint ventures.

[10] The current Ambassador of Mauritania to Russia is Boulah Ould Mogueye, who presented his credentials to Russian President Vladimir Putin on 11 December 2007.

[11] The 2005 coup d'état which saw the ouster of Mauritanian President Maaouya Ould Sid'Ahmed Taya whilst he was outside of the country, and his replacement by the Military Council for Justice and Democracy was condemned by Russia.

[12] In February 2023, Russia's foreign minister Sergey Lavrov met Mauritanian officials including President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani and Foreign Minister Mohamed Salem Ould Merzoug to discuss bilateral cooperation and Mauritania's interest in supplies of hydrocarbon fuel, food and fertilizers from Russia.