UK Navy aircraft carrier heads to Indo-Pacific

A British Navy’s flagship HMS Prince of Wales has set sail on a mission to the Indo-Pacific on 22nd April. It is expected to conduct exercises with Japan's Self-Defense Forces and others with the aim of enhancing deterrence. London has made the region “a permanent pillar” of its international policy, citing the region’s growing security and economic importance. 

It is scheduled to participate joint exercises and other activities to be held alongside 13 countries, including Japan, the United States and Australia. It is also expected to make a port call to Japan this summer. This is the second deployment of Britain’s carrier strike group to the Indo-Pacific region. 

The first was in 2021, led by another carrier of the same class. The carrier strike group is also set to carry out drills in the Mediterranean and elsewhere.