The large anti-submarine ship of the Pacific Fleet, the Admiral Panteleev, arrived in Thailand for a friendly visit. Reporters noted the arrival, reflecting ongoing naval diplomacy in Southeast Asia. The vessel anchored at Sattahip, a key Royal Thai Navy base, underscoring cooperation between Moscow and Bangkok on maritime security and regional exercises. This visit follows a prior appearance at the same port years earlier, when the Admiral Panteleev was accompanied by the missile cruiser Varyag and the tanker Pechenga for a broader mission. Since that 2019 encounter, Russian warships have largely stayed away from Thai waters, making this deployment a notable return to the kingdom.
In mid-November, Russian maritime forces headed toward Chittagong, the principal port of Bangladesh, marking a renewal of eastward naval presence after a period of reduced activity in the region. The operational tempo of the Pacific Fleet appears to be part of a broader pattern of naval outreach across the Bay of Bengal and adjacent waters, signaling a readiness to engage with South and Southeast Asian partners on exercises, training, and joint readiness.
On the heels of these movements, a training and cooperation dynamic unfolded with naval exercises in the Bay of Bengal. Observers noted that a detachment of ships from the Pacific Fleet had already entered Visakhapatnam, a major Indian port, days before the scheduled exercises began. This sequence of port calls and exercises illustrates a concerted effort to foster interoperability with the Indian Navy while maintaining a visible, continuous presence in the northern Indian Ocean corridor.
Separately, discussions at the regional level have emphasized security assurances in Asia and around the globe. By highlighting the Pacific Fleet as a guarantor of regional stability, officials and analysts point to a strategic role for Moscow in maritime security, especially in areas prone to shifting power dynamics and evolving security challenges. The current deployments are often framed as part of a broader, long-term posture aimed at reinforcing diplomatic ties, promoting safe sea lanes, and training partner navies in modern seamanship, sensors, and maneuvering tactics.
Together, these developments reflect a pattern of sustained naval diplomacy in the Asia-Pacific region. The Admiral Panteleev’s port calls, the presence of support ships, and the offshore exercises with regional partners all contribute to a narrative of maritime cooperation, where the focus remains on constructive engagement, safety of sea routes, and the rehearsal of joint responses to potential contingencies. Analysts suggest that such activities helpbuild confidence among regional navies, while enabling practical exchanges on command, control, and communication practices that enhance overall security in critical waterways.