Key Facts
• November 30: UK aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales returned to Portsmouth.
• Strike group departed in late April, focusing on countering China’s influence.
• Conducted joint drills with Japan, US, Australia, and India in the Indo-Pacific.
• August: Collaborated with Japan’s Maritime Self-Defense Force and US Navy in the Western Pacific.
• Visited US Navy and Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force bases in Yokosuka, Japan.
• UK Defense Secretary Ben Wallace highlighted UK’s leadership in global security.
Summary
The UK Royal Navy’s aircraft carrier strike group, led by HMS Prince of Wales, returned to Portsmouth on November 30 after a seven-month deployment in the Indo-Pacific. The mission aimed to counter China’s growing influence and included joint drills with Japan, the US, Australia, and India. In August, the group conducted exercises in the Western Pacific and visited naval bases in Yokosuka, Japan. UK Defense Secretary Ben Wallace emphasized the UK’s commitment to global security leadership.
