Today main naval forces’ positioning and combat areas reflect a political climate in the world. For the most part of the Cold War, the US Navy key forces were stationed in the Atlantic. The US Second Fleet was considered to be the most powerful division back then but in the mid-1990s a number of servicemen were laid off. In 2011, it was completely disestablished.

 The Navy is the US’ most flexible warfare service branch as it can both deter a potential enemy and pose a threat. It’s obvious that in the Pacific region China represents such an enemy for the US as it’s been actively strengthening its naval forces, including the country’s plans for building four aircraft carriers. Taking into account that the US plans to have six aircraft carriers in the Pacific Ocean, with part of them regularly employed in the Persian Gulf and in the Middle East, a balance of forces doesn’t seem to be so hopeless for China.

 However, a threat posed by the US Navy is still rather substantial to discourage some countries to challenge the US sea might. And the United States, in their turn, are willing to take advantage of their position, creating a sea-based component of the ballistic missile defense system and seriously increasing its mobility and flexibility. The major part of ships equipped with SM-3 interceptor missiles is also stationed in the Pacific Ocean.

 It’s necessary to understand that today Russia plays second fiddle in the US’ military planning because otherwise the most part of the US Navy would still be concentrated in the North Atlantic and the Mediterranean Sea. China, with its mounting economic and military power, and North Korea, posing a threat due to its unpredictability and possession of nuclear weapons, attract the foremost attention in the Far East today.

 The same, in fact, in also true for Russia. In its plans of military development, Russia, for already a long time, has not been viewing the US as its #1 potential enemy. Speaking about the Pacific region, the most possible attacker against Russia here is Japan, which still wants to have back the disputable islands between it and Russia. As for the US, it would hardly support this desire of Japan because, in the current situation, when China has become a very strong rival of the US for military domination in the Pacific region, the US would rather prefer to keep friendly relations with Russia.

 So, Russia is restoring its military presence in the Far East, including the development of the navy. It is expected that within the next several years, the Russian navy will be replenished with new battle ships of the corvette/destroyer type, submarines (both new and modernized), universal landing ships of the Mistral type and other military ships.

 The Fleet is also changing its priorities – the Russian Navy has switched from directly competing with the United States to solving everyday problems, which range from strengthening the defense of the Kuril Islands to fighting piracy. In the future, the majority of the Russian Navy will be deployed in the Pacific Ocean, like the US Navy. Right now all we lack is proper coastal infrastructure.

 The vital peace condition for Moscow resides not so much in weaponry as in good relations with regional leaders, India and China. Under these circumstances, Russia can develop both its fleet and the economy in the Pacific Ocean, not fearing failure of the program due to foreign policy reasons.