SUMMARY: SOVIET OCEAN DEVELOPMENT 
(By the National Ocean Policy Study Staff) 
Although Soviet Russia, unlike the United States, is a continental 
power which is not dependent on the oceans for economic and 
strategic purposes, the U.S.S.R. has developed an ocean capability 
since 1950 that now ranks it with the leading maritime nations of 
the world. 
The Soviet Union is an insular nation which has the potential for 
being self sufficient in oil and raw materials. Most of its foreign 
trade is transacted with COMECON and Western Europe over land 
and air routes. Strategically, its military allies and its potential foes 
are located on the same contiguous Eurasian land mass. Russia is 
dependent on the sea only for its source of animal protein and has 
developed a significant distant water fishing fleet that is capable of 
fishing waters anywhere in the world. 
The remarkable accomplishments of the Soviet Union in developing 
its military and commercial fleet has come about from a conscious 
policy and national commitment, made in the 1950’s, to become a 
maritime power. The Soviets achievements during the ensuing 20 years 
are even more spectacular considering that after World War II_its 
navy consisted primarily of a few battle-worn gunboats which had 
survived the war and a merchant navy made up primarily of “Victory” 
ships given to them by the United States under the lend-lease program. 
The Soviet decision to develop its ocean capabilities was probably 
to a large extent based upon economic and national security goals 
as a calculated objective of challenging the Western industrial world 
in its ideological and economic influence over the developing nations 
of the Third World. 
With an awareness that the industrial nations of the West were 
becoming increasingly dependent upon the developing nations of the 
Third World for fuel and raw materials, the Soviet Union in its quest 
for world influence saw an opportunity to challenge the prestige and 
influence of the West in the vulnerable and rapidly changing Third 
World. In recent years the Soviet Union has also become aware that 
the West—particularly after the Vietnam war and the Arab oil embar- 
go—has become increasingly introspective in its foreign policy, and 
more cautious in dealing with confrontation. Thus, the Soviets demon- 
strated support of their allies in Angola by a modest show of naval 
power. Continued displays of naval presence such as this—showing 
the flag—is a calculated strategy to impress developing countries and 
bring them within the sphere of Soviet influence. 
It has also become apparent to the Soviet Union that the oceans 
are a great source of wealth. Although the U.S.S.R. does not presently 
need the mineral resources of the ocean—aside from fish protein—for 
its economic strength and national security, it does seek to share 
in the international control of these resources. This is particularly 
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