Summary and Key Points: The Russian Navy's recent global deployments, including visits to Latin America and the Indo-Pacific, have raised questions about Moscow's intentions. While the U.S. Navy remains the dominant blue water force, Russia has been showcasing its naval capabilities with port visits in Venezuela, Cuba, India, and other nations.

-These actions could signal a worrisome trend for Washington, or they may reflect Moscow's desperate attempts to prove its fleet's relevance on the world stage.

-Despite deploying mostly training ships and older vessels, Russia's increased presence suggests a strategic effort to counter U.S. influence and assert its global reach.

Russian Navy is on the Move: Worrisome Trend for America, or Desperate Move by Moscow?             

The U.S. Navy maintains a presence around the world, and its fleet remains the largest true blue water force in service today. By contrast, the Russian Navy is largely seen as a green water force that can barely deploy warships to distant regions. 

This summer Moscow has sought to counter that opinion. Twice its vessels visited Latin America, and Russian warships recently arrived at India's port of Cochin in the Arabian Sea.

These efforts to "show the flag" could be seen as a worrisome trend for Washington, or as a desperate move by Moscow to show its fleet can still sail the world's seas. Perhaps it is a bit of both.

Russia's Latin American Ties

The U.S. Navy is able to deploy multiple nuclear-powered aircraft carriers and their strike groups to multiple regions, even if current operations leave the U.S. sea service spread a little thin. Carriers are being sent to the Middle East while continuing to maintain a presence in the Indo-Pacific.

By comparison, Russia's Baltic Fleet deployed the training ship Smolny to the Venezuelan port of La Guaira on Tuesday. The visit comes mere weeks after a Russian Navy flotilla comprising the guided-missile frigate Admiral Gorshkov and medium sea-going tanker Akademik Pashin arrived in the same port after a visit to Cuba.

"We are always glad to welcome fraternal Russia's naval ships," the Venezuelan Navy’s deputy commander, Vice Adm. Edward Centeno, told TASS. "Today, on August 6, we are welcoming the training ship Smolny. A program of stay in Venezuela has been prepared for its crew, including visits to historical sites of the administrative center of the state of La Guaira, and cultural and sporting events."

TASS added that a year ago, "the Russian Navy's training ship Perekop took part in a naval parade in Venezuela on the occasion of the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Lake Maracaibo." That engagement was the last battle of the Venezuelan War of Independence, and it marked the end of Spanish rule in what is now Venezuela. The Kremlin skipped noting that Imperial Russia supported Spain at the time. 

Indo-Pacific Deployments

As the Russian training vessel arrived in Venezuela, another Russian Navy detachment made a scheduled port visit to Cochin port. The Pacific Fleet’s missile cruiser Varyag and frigate Marshal Shaposhnikov visited the Omani port of Salalah after beginning a long-distance deployment in January. Over the past seven months, the flotilla has visited India, Sri Lanka, Iran, Qatar, and Eritrea. It marks one of the longest deployments of the Pacific Fleet in recent years.

Moscow also announced on Wednesday that it will hold its first drills with the Indonesian Navy this coming November. The Orruda 2024 joint exercises will begin in Surabaya, in the Indonesian province of East Java, and run from Nov. 4-8. 

Russia is increasing its global deployments, even if most of the vessels sent are training ships and antiquated vehicles.

Author Experience and Expertise: Peter Suciu 

Peter Suciu is a Michigan-based writer. He has contributed to more than four dozen magazines, newspapers, and websites with over 3,200 published pieces over a twenty-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a Contributing Writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: [email protected].

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