Global Security Briefing The UK's 2025 Carrier Strike Group Deployment and Britain’s Indo-Pacific Tilt.
Sep 3, 2025
Philip Shetler-Jones, a Senior Research Fellow at RUSI, dives into Britain's strategic shift towards the Indo-Pacific, focusing on the 2025 deployment of the HMS Prince of Wales. He discusses the deepening defense ties between the UK and Japan, along with the geopolitical challenges in the region. The conversation touches on the complexities surrounding US-China relations, Japan's emerging military role, and the future of UK naval operations amid fiscal constraints. Shetler-Jones provides insights into the broader implications of this naval presence on international security.
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Carrier Visit And Pacific Future Forum
- The RUSI team joined HMS Prince of Wales in Tokyo Bay and ran the Pacific Future Forum inside the carrier hangar deck.
- The visit showcased UK-Japan ties and drew visible public and media interest in Tokyo.
Multiregional Operational Test
- The deployment tested operational readiness across multiple regions from the Mediterranean to exercises near the Philippines and Australia.
- It demonstrated the carrier strike group's ability to integrate with allies and conduct complex anti-submarine and air operations.
Forum Stressed Alliance And Industry Links
- The Pacific Future Forum emphasised alliance, interdependence and defence-industry ties across the Euro-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific spaces.
- Speakers argued competition and collaboration must be harnessed to secure supply chains and critical technologies.