Russian President Pledges to Modernize Navy

Attending the groundbreaking ceremony for the fourth nuclear submarine, Mr. Putin affirmed that he will strengthen the nuclear navy to protect the country's position as a leading maritime power.

The groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of a new Borei-class submarine took place at the Sevmash shipyard in northern Russia. The Russian leader himself attended and delivered an important speech at the ceremony.

It is the fourth Borei-class submarine, designed to carry one of Russia's most powerful and modern intercontinental nuclear missiles - the Bulava.

“We believe that our country will maintain its position as one of the world's leading maritime powers,” Mr. Putin said.

President Putin speaks at the groundbreaking ceremony for the fourth Borei-class nuclear submarine (Photo: Ria)

President Putin also mentioned the US nuclear submarine force on the other side of the Atlantic that Moscow has been closely monitoring for decades.

“First of all, we are talking about the development of the navy in Russia's strategic nuclear forces, about the role of the navy in maintaining the strategic nuclear balance,” he said.

Mr Putin wants the Borei-class submarines and the missiles they will carry to be the cornerstone of Russia's navy, which will receive nearly a quarter of the $621.3 billion military budget by the end of the decade.

Russian President Putin also said that Russia will have eight Borei-class submarines by 2020. At that time, the Russian navy will also receive 51 new ships.

Referring to Russia's ambitions in the Arctic, where Moscow plans to expand its claims, Mr Putin said the navy would protect Russia's interests in the region.

“Obviously, the navy is a force aimed at protecting national economic interests, including areas such as the Arctic, where the world's biological and mineral resources are concentrated,” the Russian leader said.

According to the state program until 2020, Russia will spend 4.5 trillion rubles (more than 100 billion euros) on modernizing the Navy. At this time, money has already begun to be allocated from the budget.

Even a new crisis in the global economy will not significantly change the program of modernizing the Russian army and navy, Dmitry Rogozin, Deputy Prime Minister in charge of the defense industry, said.

"The reason is that not only the modernization of the navy but also the growth of the domestic shipbuilding industry and related high-tech industries will depend directly on these programs," Mr. Rogozin said./.

According to VOV.vn - DT