In an attempt to counter the US’ increasing presence in the Indo-Pacific Region, Russia has decided to station its newest nuclear submarine – the Generalissimo Suvorov – at its permanent naval base in the Pacific in August 2023. The Russian Navy has issued a statement, mentioning that the Generalissimo Suvorov is a nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine that would move to a permanent naval base near the Kamchatka Peninsula.

TASS, the Russian news agency, reported on May 24 (2023) that the Kremlin planned to step up its Pacific military presence after considering the changing regional geopolitical landscape. The agency also reported that the Generalissimo Suvorov, which entered service at the end of 2022, is capable of carrying up to 16 nuclear-tipped Russian Bulava missiles, and each of these missiles can carry more than one nuclear warhead.

Talking to TASS, a senior official of the Russian Military Department (who wished to remain anonymous) stressed: “The submarine Generalissimo Suvorov will make an inter-naval transition from the Northern Fleet (in the Arctic) to the Pacific Fleet in August. The transition will be carried out along the Northern Sea Route, including in a submerged position.“

Meanwhile, President Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin has announced that he would further strengthen the Russian Navy and to bolster the nuclear-powered fleet at the Rybachiy submarine base on the Kamchatka Peninsula. “We will increase the pace and volume of construction of various ships, equip them with the most modern weapons All in all, everything to reliably ensure Russia’s security, the protection of our national interests in the world ocean,” added the Russian strongman.

Earlier, Moscow blasted Washington DC for expanding the US’ presence in the Indo-Pacific Region and also for raising security concerns in Japan. The Kremlin believes that the presence of Generalissimo Suvorov would certainly bolster the Russian Pacific Fleet‘s force of nuclear-powered submarines at the Rybachiy submarine base on the Kamchatka Peninsula. It may be noted that the Generalissimo Suvorov is the sixth vessel of the Russian Borei class of smaller and stealthier submarines. They will replace previous generations of ballistic missile submarines of Russia.

Experts are of the opinion that Russia’s move shall help China counter QUAD’s (a strategic security alliance between Australia, India, Japan and the US) plan to stamp its authority in the Indo-Pacific Region. For a long time, Beijing has been trying hard to take control of the region. Now, Russia and China could throw a strong challenge to other global powers through their growing naval presence in the Indo-Pacific Region. It seems that the QUAD would have to come out with a new plan in order to maintain a balance (of power).

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Published by Koushik Das

Koushik Das (born on May 16, 1976 in Kolkata) is a career journalist. Based in the Indian capital of New Delhi, Koushik writes mainly about foreign policies and current geopolitical issues, and rarely about other topics. His own political ideas are highly influenced by Antonio Gramsci, Louis Althusser, Michel Foucault, Michael Oakeshott and others. English philosopher and political theorist Oakeshott (Dec 11, 1901-Dec 19, 1990) says that “in political activity, men sail a boundless and bottomless sea. There is neither harbour for shelter nor floor for anchorage, neither starting-place, nor appointed destination. But we have to keep afloat”. (Rationalism in Politics, 1962) As a student of Political Science, Koushik loves to share his views on issues, which have great impacts on his thought process (and also on India, South Asia and of course on the global community), with his readers through his website – Boundless Ocean of Politics. By doing so, he tries to keep himself afloat. You will find some of his articles in https://inserbia.info/today/ (https://inserbia.info/today/author/kou_das13_i/), as he has been trying to assess the global geopolitics since 2003. You can also mail him at kousdas@gmail.com View all posts by Koushik Das