Russian president cautions Moscow has the military clout to defeat any potential aggressors
\n ST PETERSBURG
\nPresident Vladimir Putin on Sunday signed a new naval doctrine which cast the United States as Russia\u2019s main rival and set out Russia\u2019s global maritime ambitions for crucial areas such as the Arctic and in the Black Sea.
\nSpeaking on Russia\u2019s Navy Day in the former imperial capital of St Petersburg founded by Tsar Peter the Great, Putin praised Peter for making Russia a great sea power and increasing the global standing of the Russian state.
\nAfter inspecting the navy, Putin made a short speech in which he promised that what he touted as Russia\u2019s unique Zircon hypersonic cruise missiles, cautioning that Russia had the military clout to defeat any potential aggressors.
\nShortly before the speech, he signed a new 55-page naval doctrine, which sets out the broad strategic aims of Russia\u2019s navy, including its ambitions as a \u201cgreat maritime power\u201d which extend over the entire world.
\nThe main threat to Russia, the doctrine says, is \u201cthe strategic policy of the USA to dominate the world\u2019s oceans\u201d and the movement of the NATO military alliance closer towards Russia\u2019s borders.
\nRussia may use its military force appropriately to the situation in the world\u2019s oceans should other soft powers, such as diplomatic and economic tools, be exhausted, the doctrine says.
\nPutin did not mention the conflict in Ukraine during his speech but the military doctrine envisages a \u201ccomprehensive strengthening of Russia\u2019s geopolitical position\u201d in the Black and Azov seas.
\nIt also set out the Arctic Ocean, which the United States has repeatedly said Russia is trying to militarise, as an area of particular importance for Russia.
\nRussia\u2019s vast 37,650 km (23,400 mile) coastline, which stretches from the Sea of Japan to the White Sea, also includes the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea.
\nPutin said the delivery of Zircon hypersonic cruise missiles to the Admiral Gorshkov frigate would begin within months. The location of their deployment would depend on Russian interests, he said.
\n\u201cThe key thing here is the capability of the Russian navy… It is able to respond with lightning speed to all who decides to infringe on our sovereignty and freedom.\u201d
\nHypersonic weapons can travel at nine times the speed of sound, and Russia has conducted previous test-launches of the Zircon from warships and submarines over the past year.
\nIn Crimea, Sevastopol governor Mikhail Razvozhayev said Ukrainian forces struck the headquarters of Russia\u2019s Black Sea Fleet in the Russian-held port city early on Sunday, wounding five members of staff.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Russian president cautions Moscow has the military clout to defeat any potential aggressors ST PETERSBURG President Vladimir Putin on Sunday signed a new naval doctrine which cast the United States as Russia\u2019s main rival and set out Russia\u2019s global maritime ambitions for crucial areas such as the Arctic and in the Black Sea. Speaking on […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":274772,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-274848","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-world"},"yoast_head":"\n