Seven aircraft carriers and assault ships in European waters

Five aircraft carriers and two assault ships with aviation capabilities are currently operating in European waters, engaging in activities ranging from training exercises to reinforcing NATO’s defensive posture amid Russian aggression.

This robust display includes vessels from the British, American, Italian, and Turkish navies, operating across the North Sea, Baltic Sea, and Mediterranean, underscoring NATO’s readiness and commitment to security across Europe.

HMS Queen Elizabeth recently departed Portsmouth to conduct routine trials and training following extensive repairs and capability upgrades completed earlier this year at Rosyth. The upgrades included essential work on the ship’s starboard propeller shaft coupling after technical issues forced her withdrawal from NATO’s Steadfast Defender exercise. Now fully operational, HMS Queen Elizabeth is focused on training activities, preparing for future deployments.

Meanwhile, HMS Prince of Wales completed Exercise Strike Warrior in European waters and is poised to lead the UK’s Carrier Strike Group as it gears up for a deployment to the Indo-Pacific next year.

British and American aircraft carriers in show of force

In the North Sea, the U.S. Navy’s USS Harry S. Truman continues joint operations with NATO partners following a series of exercises aimed at enhancing interoperability across air, land, and sea domains.

The Italian aircraft carrier ITS Cavour was conducting operations in the Mediterranean alongside USS Abraham Lincoln, another American supercarrier. These carriers, exercising together, bring advanced air-sea integration capabilities to the region, showing off NATO’s ability to coordinate complex, multi-domain operations in support of collective security.

The Mediterranean and Adriatic Seas have also been the stage for joint naval exercises involving Turkey’s TCG Anadolu, a multipurpose amphibious assault ship, alongside the U.S. USS Wasp. The Wasp class amphibious assault vessels are equipped to launch a range of aircraft, including helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft, further expanding NATO’s rapid-response options.

The TCG Anadolu, Turkey’s first ship capable of supporting substantial aviation assets, provides NATO with unique operational flexibility, while USS Wasp enhances amphibious operational capabilities, adding depth to the alliance’s ability to secure and stabilise critical maritime routes in the region.

The presence of this combined NATO fleet across European waters hammers home the strategic importance of maintaining freedom of navigation and securing Europe’s maritime boundaries at a time of heightened geopolitical tensions.

While the recent Neptune Strike 24-2 exercise, led by NATO’s Naval Striking and Support Forces (STRIKFORNATO), concluded last week, the ongoing deployment of these vessels continues to reinforce NATO’s resolve to respond decisively to any threats.

Neptune Strike 24-2, one of NATO’s premier vigilance exercises, involved air, land, and sea forces operating across multiple joint operational areas from the Mediterranean and Adriatic up to the North and Baltic Seas. Although Neptune Strike has ended, the exercises allowed NATO forces to sharpen their skills in areas like amphibious landings, air-to-ground strikes, counter-mine operations, and defence against drones—demonstrating the alliance’s commitment to defending Europe’s vital waterways.

With approximately 15,000 personnel across 20 surface vessels, submarines, special operations forces, and aircraft from NATO nations, these deployments and exercises illustrate the scale of NATO’s maritime operations and its capability to project power and secure stability across European waters.