Vital role seen for Russia’s sea forces
MOSCOW — The United States’ quest for dominance of the world’s oceans and the expansion of NATO are the main threats to Russia’s national maritime security, according to a new Russian naval doctrine adopted on Sunday.
Russian President Vladimir Putin signed the Executive Order On the Approval of the Naval Doctrine of the Russian Federation and the Executive Order on Approving the Russian Navy Regulations earlier in the day before the central part of the Main Naval Parade.
The 55-page doctrine said the main challenges and threats to Russia’s national security and sustainable development are “the strategic course of the US toward domination in the world’s oceans and its global influence on international processes”.
The expansion of NATO’s military infrastructure to the Russian borders and the growing number of the bloc’s drills in areas adjacent to the country’s waters are also listed as major threats to Russia’s national security.
In a speech during the parade, Putin said the doctrine openly outlines the boundaries and zones of Russia’s national interests.
The maritime doctrine update reflects changes in the geopolitical and military-strategic situation in the world, said Russia’s Deputy Prime Minister Yury Borisov during a maritime board meeting in May, as quoted by a TASS report.
In another development, OPEC’s new secretary-general said Russia’s membership in OPEC+ is vital for the success of the agreement, reported Kuwait’s Alrai newspaper on Sunday, quoting an exclusive interview with Haitham al-Ghais.
He said OPEC is not in competition with Russia, calling it “a big, main and highly influential player in the world energy map”, Alrai reported.
OPEC+ is an alliance of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and allies led by Russia.
Al-Ghais, Kuwait’s former OPEC governor, will head his first OPEC+ meeting on Wednesday, in which the group will consider keeping oil output unchanged for September, despite calls from the US for more supply, although a modest output increase is also likely to be discussed, eight sources told Reuters last week.
Oil has soared to its highest this year since 2008, climbing above $139 a barrel in March, after the US and Europe imposed sanctions on Russia. Prices have since eased to around $108, as soaring inflation and higher interest rates raise fears of a recession that would erode demand. Russian energy giant Gazprom suspended gas supplies to Latvia on Saturday, and has so far suspended gas supplies to six European countries.
On Monday, the first ship carrying Ukrainian grain set off from the port of Odessa under an internationally brokered deal that is expected to release large stores of Ukrainian crops to foreign markets and ease a growing hunger crisis.
The Sierra Leone-flagged cargo ship the Razoni left Odessa for Lebanon, according to Ankara. A statement from the United Nations said the Razoni was carrying over 26,000 metric tons of corn. The ship was expected to reach Istanbul on Tuesday.
In Moscow, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov hailed the ship’s departure as “very positive”.