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In Saint Petersburg, Vladimir Putin held a parade in honor of the Navy. Investments should secure their status.
Amid tensions between Russia and the West, Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin has rolled out a new military doctrine for the country’s naval forces. Russia’s sea borders, including in the Arctic and the Black Sea, were also defined there.
“We will ensure protection with all means and by all means,” emphasized the Kremlin chief at a parade with warships on Navy Day in his hometown of St. Petersburg.
Legend:
Vladimir Putin at the Navy Parade in Saint Petersburg
Keystone/AP Pool Sputnik Kremlin
Above all, the USA and NATO are mentioned as threats to Russia’s security. The naval doctrine, renewed for the first time since 2015, is also a declaration of war on the West.
The new doctrine stipulated that the US quest for dominance of the world’s oceans was a “challenge to Russia’s national security,” according to the Russian news agency Interfax.
The aim is to prevent the USA from being able to restrict Russia’s access to mineral resources on the seabed of the world’s oceans – or to shipping routes. In the Arctic, Russia claims, among other things, the gas suspected there, but also other resources.
Bases outside of Russia in focus
The nuclear power now wants to be more active in the Arctic region, where other residents have also made claims. The new doctrine expressly emphasizes that Russia can use military force to assert its interests on the high seas once all attempts to resolve the conflict through diplomatic channels have been exhausted. In the event of war, civilian ships should then also be able to be integrated into the naval forces.
Legend:
Vladimir Putin at the Naval Parade in Saint Petersburg
Keystone/Mikhail Klimentyev
The relocation of the military infrastructure of the NATO states to the Russian borders and the territorial claims of a “series of states” that would affect the maritime regions and islands of the huge empire were also named as dangers. Japan, for example, is demanding the return of the South Kuril Islands in the Pacific.
According to the document, the presence of a “sufficient number” of naval bases outside Russia’s borders should be expanded. A ship parade was also planned for Sunday in the Syrian port city of Tartus, where the Russian fleet is stationed. Last but not least, the doctrine envisages the construction of modern aircraft carriers – regardless of Western sanctions against shipyards.
Controversy over alleged drone attack
The Crimean metropolis of Sevastopol canceled all celebrations for Navy Day, which is traditionally celebrated in Russia, on Sunday morning. Governor Mikhail Rasvozhayev justified this by saying that the headquarters of the Black Sea Fleet had been attacked with a drone. Six people were injured. The Ukrainian Navy denied this.
In reality, the Russians did not dare to hold the celebrations as planned for fear of Ukrainian attacks, according to a statement published on Facebook. “And in order not to embarrass himself in front of the whole world because he (the enemy) fears the armed forces of Ukraine, he invented a reason to cancel the events.”
From the Russian side it was said that the drone had hit the courtyard of the headquarters. Governor Rasvozhayev showed photos of destruction. “Early this morning, Ukrainian nationalists decided to spoil our Navy Day,” Razvozhayev wrote. This information could not be verified independently.