President Vladimir Putin has approved a sweeping new naval doctrine to reassert Russia’s global maritime power, amid growing defense investments and setbacks suffered in the Ukraine conflict.

According to Kremlin aide Nikolai Patrushev, the new long-term strategy, signed in late May, is designed to ensure Russia’s return to prominence as a leading naval power. “Russia’s position as one of the world’s greatest maritime powers is gradually recovering,” Patrushev told Argumenti i Fakti. The policy outlines strategic scenarios, threats, and mission objectives that will guide the Russian Navy through the mid-21st century.

Though details remain scarce, the strategy signals an intent to counter global maritime shifts and U.S. influence, with defense spending now reaching Cold War-era levels as a share of GDP.

War Losses and a Renewed Maritime Push

Russia’s navy, which ranks third globally behind the U.S. and China, has endured several high-profile losses since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Despite this, open-source estimates show Moscow retains a formidable fleet: 79 submarines—including 14 nuclear ballistic missile subs—and 222 warships, anchored by the powerful Northern Fleet based in Severomorsk.

The naval expansion is part of broader efforts to reassert military and geopolitical influence after sanctions and battlefield setbacks, especially at sea.

China and U.S. Context

The announcement comes amid intensifying competition with China and the United States. The U.S. Department of Defense previously projected that China’s navy would expand to 460 battleforce ships by 2030. Russia’s new strategy appears calibrated to maintain relevance in this shifting balance.

Patrushev emphasized the need for foresight in oceanic developments and global threats, echoing Moscow’s growing military-industrial mobilization across land, air, and sea domains.