Russian President Vladimir Putin has approved a new long-term naval strategy aimed at re-establishing Russia as one of the world’s leading maritime powers, according to Kremlin aide Nikolai Patrushev.
The strategy, titled “The Strategy for the Development of the Russian Navy up to 2050,” was signed off by Putin in late May, Patrushev revealed in an interview with Argumenti i Fakti newspaper published on Monday.
“Russia’s position as one of the world’s greatest maritime powers is gradually recovering,” said Patrushev, a former KGB officer and long-time associate of Putin. He stressed that the development of naval capabilities could not proceed without a comprehensive vision of global maritime trends, emerging threats, and clearly defined goals for the Russian Navy.
Although Patrushev did not disclose detailed elements of the strategy, he emphasised the importance of long-term planning amid evolving security dynamics in the world’s oceans. He also noted that Russia has significantly increased its defence and security spending, bringing it close to Cold War-era levels as a proportion of GDP.
Despite being ranked behind the US and China in terms of naval strength, Russia still maintains one of the largest fleets globally, with 79 submarines—including 14 nuclear-powered ballistic missile subs—and 222 warships. The country’s main naval force is the Northern Fleet, headquartered in Severomorsk on the Barents Sea.
While Russia continues to assert its military presence at sea, its navy has sustained several notable losses during the ongoing war in Ukraine. Still, the Kremlin remains determined to bolster its naval capabilities as part of broader efforts to strengthen national defence and maritime influence.
A 2021 report by the US Department of Defence identified China as having the world’s largest navy, with projections suggesting Beijing’s battleforce could reach 460 ships by 2030.