.png){kind=small}
The UK, France and Italy are planning the coordinated deployment of their aircraft carriers in the Indo-Pacific
- Core Insights Advisory Services
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
Date: July 5, 2025
In the context of the deployment of the aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales alongside its Indo-Pacific Attack Group, the United Kingdom confirmed that it is translating a proposal for France and Italy to join a series of coordinated missions of their aircraft carriers in the region, seeking to give a clear demonstration of Europe's commitment to the security of its allies. The idea in question would be framed by the European Aircraft Carrier Group (ECGII) Interoperability Initiative, which aims to expand the possibilities for the continent's armed forces to work together as part of a combined attack group.
Expanding in detail the UK Minister of Defence, Maria Eagle, was in charge of slipping the issue in response to a parliamentary consultation carried out by MP Ben Obese-Jecty. Collecting some of his own statements: "(NdE: The aircraft carrier deployments have been sequenced together, including the coordination of the deployment of the HMS Prince of Wales with the Charles de Gaulle of France and the Cavour of Italy.
It should be noted at this point that if the rules set out in the above-mentioned ECGII are followed, none of the three countries will lose the autonomy to decide when their ships participate, or whether during the deployments, the aircraft carriers may also be involved in missions at the national level or combined with allies of the region. As such, this does not result in the presence of a permanent European Attack Group in the Indo-Pacific region, but in the understanding of the participating countries, it results in greater visibility and impact of their deployments as part of a coordinated trend.
In this sense, as raised in the words of Minister Eagle: The coordinated effort improves regional security and strategic alignment. The issue is not at all minor at the moment, especially considering that China has increased its military maneuvers around Taiwan, which according to local reports had a clear recent sample with more than 41 aircraft and 9 ships deployed in the waters surrounding the island. Added to this, it is important to mention that the People's Liberation Army Navy has recently decided to send two of its aircraft carriers beyond the so-called First Islands Chain; designed by the U.S. as part of its containment strategy for the Asian Giant.
For the time being, it should also be noted that both the aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales and its Italian counterpart, the ITS Cavour, have already trained together during the last May while the former was passing Mediterranean waters as part of its route to the Indo-Pacific. The Mediterranean Strike 25 exercises, as decided to be called, allowed both ships to operate alongside a force of more than 24 ships (3 of them submarines), 41 warplanes, 10 maritime surveillance and patrol aircraft, 19 helicopters on board and a total of 8,000 troops.
For its part, the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle completed in April its own five-month deployment in the Indo-Pacific, a mission called Clemenceau 25 and involving the aforementioned aircraft carrier alongside three frigates, a resupply vessel and a nuclear-powered attack submarine.