STRATEGIC REALIGNMENT AT SEA: ANALYSING THE 2022 RUSSIAN MARITIME DOCTRINE AMIDST GLOBAL GEOPOLITICAL SHIFTS

Abstract

Abstract.
The adoption of the 2022 Russian Maritime Doctrine marks a decisive shift in the strategic orientation of the Russian Federation’s maritime policy. Initiated by presidential directive, the doctrine constitutes a comprehensive revision of the 2015 framework, aligning maritime governance with prevailing geopolitical and military–strategic conditions. Grounded in legal instruments and state conceptual frameworks, it articulates Russia’s national maritime interests across transport, scientific research, offshore resource exploitation, and naval operations. The paper applies qualitative content analysis to systematically examine the doctrine’s structure, policy orientation, and legal foundations, drawing on international legal instruments, institutional reports, and peer–reviewed literature. Particular attention is devoted to the integration of International Humanitarian Law (IHL) with emerging maritime warfare technologies and humanitarian protection. The findings highlight the doctrine’s focus on sovereignty, self–reliance, and global competitiveness, while emphasising its broader geopolitical ambition, most notably through the proposed 2024 Eurasian security architecture initiative. Consequently, the doctrine elevates maritime policy as a core instrument of national resilience and strategic influence in an increasingly contested global maritime order.