The UK is set to deploy a Carrier Strike Group to the Indo-Pacific later this year, with the mission focused on reinforcing the international rules-based order and countering the growing influence of China in the region.
Speaking during a debate in the House of Lords on 28 January 2025, Defence Minister Lord Coaker stressed the importance of defending maritime security and the law of the sea in an increasingly contested global landscape.
Lord Coaker stated that the deployment, which will likely feature one of the Royal Navy’s Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers, will demonstrate the UK’s commitment to international law and freedom of navigation.
“We will lead a carrier strike group out into the Indo-Pacific to demonstrate that the law of the sea, the international rules-based order, is something that is important to us,” he said. The deployment will also strengthen ties with allies in the region, including Australia and New Zealand, highlighting their shared commitment to resisting regional pressures from Beijing.
This long planned mission comes amid heightened tensions in the Indo-Pacific, where China’s territorial claims and military expansion in the South and East China Seas have drawn criticism and resistance from Western allies. By deploying its carrier strike group, the UK aims to bolster regional security and demonstrate that European powers remain invested in upholding international law far beyond their own borders.
Lord Coaker linked the Indo-Pacific deployment to the broader strategic goal of preventing regional conflicts from undermining global stability. “You cannot divide peace and security in one part of the world from peace and security in another,” he said, addressing concerns that resources could be overstretched between Europe and Asia.
The carrier strike group’s presence in the Indo-Pacific will serve as a symbol of the UK’s intent to maintain a visible and proactive stance in areas critical to global trade and security.
While the UK’s defence commitments in Europe remain robust, such as through NATO’s Baltic Sentry initiative, this Indo-Pacific deployment underscores the importance of multilateral partnerships in deterring aggression and maintaining stability. It also reflects the UK’s alignment with the AUKUS security pact, which strengthens collaboration with Australia and the United States in countering challenges from China.
Childish posturing at the end of the day. I doubt Xi will lose a minutes sleep over the RN prowling around.
Wow the little pinks are fast at getting in the comments, welcome comrade. If Xi is so un bothered why does CCP propaganda make such a big deal of it?
Well, propaganda is just that – propaganda. Facts are facts too and as much as it pains me to say it, Xi really doesn’t take us seriously militarily. He can read just like us and knows that successive generations of our politicians have hollowed out our Armed Forces – and are continuing to do to. He knows that our RN will have to strip the cupboard bare just to put the CSG together in the first place. So, no he doesn’t take us seriously – and that really grinds my gears!
Xi is balancing everything, he’s not contemplating a short sharp campaign as he knows the US can and will win a short sharp war…he’s balancing can he beat the US in a long war to strategic and political exhaustion and a very big part of that equation is around the allies of the US.
Also whatever anyone thinks the RN has 2 modern 70,000 ton carriers thay can be made available, the US will generally have 8 carriers that can be made available so the RN adds around 20% to the available large carrier forces…that’s not an insignificant contribution by any stretch.
Except that the QEs are more likely to be at the level of an America class than a Ford/Nimitz.
They’re big, but they’re not supercarriers.
The main problem also remains the lack of F35Bs for the RN to really operate one not even mentionning two carriers.
The lack of surface power is also a big factor. In Europe, not a single navy have really a ship designed for a war against an enemy like China.
No hermis they are not, an American class cannot come close to the sortie rate of an Elizabeth. In reality they can operate up to 70 aircraft as for numbers to put on them essentially in a U.S. China war that becomes less of an issue as there will be an absolute abundance of F35Bs in the pacific theatre looking for a ride..
Simply put the US marines would fill it up to busting and one old captain was very clear you could get a mix of 70 airframes on an Elizabeth as a war load.
I would add, Singapore has 4 F35B & 8 on order. They also don’t have a carrier. Other allies have E7’s & P8’s, destroyers, frigates, DE Submarines etc. Even NZ can put up a modern AOR. Few can put up a 70k ton carrier, but plenty of allies are capable of supporting one.
You know the person making the comments works for the Chinese government to do anti western propaganda right?
He should do we have arguably the best SSN out there with some of the best crews. If he does not recognise these as a threat he is a fool…
Totally Jim! It’s not just about the UK Carrier group. It’s working up with other regional navies to demonstrate operational capability and unified opposition to China’s empire building.
This DeepSeek thing has really brought them out of the woodwork.
There was a CCP interviewee on Channel 4 News practically beaming from ear to ear.
I’m not sure if they’re more proud that they’ve got something roughly comparable or that they’ve gotten away with lying about how they got there.
Ya! Jim, it should be no big deal. CCP must quit whining like old Donnie. PLA navy just deploy to defend Greenland and sail around the English channel proclaiming it is the English channel. Not Musk’s water playground.
You doubt whether Xi fears CSGs, but we know he fears cartoon bears enough to outlaw Winnie-the-Pooh…
Winnie is our greatest weapon in the struggle for the pacific. He is easily worth 10 divisions 😀
Childish posturing.
Yet allowed for other navies,
yes? To sail where they wish to?
So the RN will join other European navies in visiting our friends and allies in the Far East.
The use of the term Childish is this context is a dead giveaway away they are a little pink, no western and certainly no Brit would ever use such a term in this context. It’s lifted straight out of The Global Times.
If Xi is not bothered why do the people who work for him go out of their way to comment on a UK defence website.
Because we are stil a threat.
They know it, the Russians know it.
If we are supporting the law of the sea and the rules based order then perhaps we should sail the CSG round Greenland and through the Panama Canal.
The key question is whether The Tangerine Ego is oversized for the Panama Canal?
It would be quite serious if it got stuck in one of locks….if would require a continuous shuttle of Mc Donald’s trucks to keep the ego fueled….the effects on world trade….
Hasn’t mr DT changed his hair colour lately? Lol. He’s getting pretty bolshy early on. Nothing subtle. He’s more out there than Xi and Putin – and throw in some others and we have one of those team tag wrestling matches going on!
Certainly Greenland. Panama is only an ally if you have a few billion to hide from the people, so less of a concern in my view.
Did you Matk Felton’s video on Greenland? Turns out uk had first refusal on Greenland if Denmark sells and Greenland decide and agreement with Denmark.
That’s why the Donald has started being nice to us, if only we weren’t skint we could buy it and add it to our long list of ice covered islands 😀
Yes. Buy buy buy!
Except I doubt Labour would, Milliwatt would have a pink fit if we expanded those mines.
Lots of rare earth metals for batteries though, if Unite Union gets onboard them maybe. 🤔
If this were going to be a display of strength it might be worthwhile. But it will really be a manifestation of the very limited state of UK naval power. Even this underpowered CSG will need most of the available surface fleet to protect it.
Far better to use the carrier as part of a multi national effort by allies.
Which is what you will probably see!
Presume all I-P powers understand the geopolitical situation. Would not be surprised to learn Australian, Japanese, Indonesian, Malaysian, New Zealand, Singaporean, South Korean, etc., naval and/or airborne assets temporarily attach to the CSG w/in respective spheres of influence. Almost guaranteed that Beijing will closely monitor and log which countries provide support. Evidently USMC/USN will not provide overt support, but willing to wager USN SSN(s) will be w/in rapid response radius while CSG is patrolling SCS. Still believe it would be advisable to include a USMC F-35B squadron and/or an AB during SCS segment as an overt signal to PLAN, but no one at DoD is apparently too concerned. Past experience has demonstrated that is exactly the time reality will intrude and devour one’s gluteus maximus.
No chance South Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand or Singapore will be joining CSG. They are all too tied to Chinas money. Unfortunately the US has very little economic influence in the region. CPTPP was designed to address this weakness but with the US pulling out its can’t rival China, now the Donald is rapidly threatening tariffs on the few genuine Allie’s America has in the region Chinas economic influence will grow further.
In Asia money walks security talks, most countries in Asia will be prepared to bend the knee and kiss the ring for Chinas money and they will be willing to accept the terms the CCP lays out to do this including looking the other way when it comes to China annexing neighbours.
It’s a situation very similar to Europe in 1939.
South Korea is rather tied up with CCP & ever friendly Mr Kim right next door. They are constantly on a war footing. They do have E7’s once past Taiwan & quality destroyers & frigates. Japan is all about countering China. Singapore knows what happened to Hong Kong. They remember WW2. They are the most reliable SE Asian ally & their gear is top notch. Australia will likely supply a Hobart Destroyer & possibly a frigate or SSK & they have more P8 than most (& more E7’s than anybody). Both Australian AOR’s (relatively new) are unavailable due to engine problems (Spanish built Man diesel), leaving NZ’s (also relatively new) AOR covering both Navies. Unless both NZ frigates (they only have 2) are available, it’s unlikely one will be assigned. Same for the French (2 Floreal class based in the Pacific). Brunei will likely make an appearance with an Exocet armed OPV. Indonesia & Malaysia are questionable, but India likely (at least as far as Singapore).
It’ll be interesting to see if there is any increased level of defensive armaments and decoys on the carrier and RFAs as well as the destroyers and frigates.
Does anyone know if any T45s with CAMM or even NSM will be ready for the CSG 2025?
CAMM definately not,NSM likely if HMS Dragon progresses through her Trials successfully.Dauntless and Duncan might come into play but nothing has been announced yet as to which of these are going on CSG25.
I wouldn’t be too surprised if 3 of the T45 were forward deployed.
One overtly with CSG and the others hovering about just in case of a mechanical.
At least one of them will have NSM and possible the T23 as well. Bear in mind it could be that the NSM box launchers are just bolted to the deck so they *look* like they are deployed.
With the rising tensions the fact that systems like that have been or are tested will only be slipped out well after the fact anyway so it is harder for un-friendlies to find intel on the tests. So I’d not be too surprised to find that at least one of the T23s has done the testing and I am pretty sure a T45 will do testing, as a priority, before CSG leaves or break off to do it at some point as part of the choreography.
Too many group thinkers in the chain of command and MOD and here (sometimes). A basic strengths and weaknesses would identify everything that’s no right with our armed forces and so to wave around a smallish stick in front of China is extremely foolish. Long gone are the days where we talked eloquently and carried a big stick. With just 8 frigates left and 6 destroyers that lack ASW, with less than 100 FGR4s left we’re in no fit state to do anything other than barely protect our own islands.
If President Dump pulls out of NATO or seriously undermines NATO I hope America /Trump isn’t then expecting European countries joining in with any US-Taiwan/China fight? The Yanks can FO.
No one in the US believes that the UK could contribute anything against China so there is no expectation of anything. You can go back to sucking your thumb.
Still getting your information from Tik Tok I see
No wonder your comments are so puerile.
There are other long standing allies in the Indio-Pacific (much longer standing than USA). They turned up for WW1 & WW2 well before USA belatedly did. There is also the 5 powers treaty most have forgotten about (UK, Malaysia, Singapore, Australia & NZ). There are British troops in Brunei. Leaving aside rest of Europe, UK has responsibility (& territory) in the region (as does France). It’s easy to walk away, doing so with your head held high is another matter.
Going off the Topic a little latest news Reports Starmer not going to bother with defence review and keeping us at 2.3% , not that 2.5% would make much difference 🙄
What, with 4 planes? Yeah that is terrifying…
What, with 4 planes? Yeah that is terrifying…
This is a total waste of time and money. I suspect it is driven by the current CDS, who just happens to be RN and needs to show that his carriers are not just a waste of space. We are not a global power, we will never again be a global power – we need to focus on developing our influence in the Middle East and Europe – we cannot pour money into pointless exercises at the other side of the planet when we should be spending it on stopping illegal immigrants.
We believe Russia, China are our enemies but they are not imposing huge tariffs and demanding buying of US energy. I don’t know if we can afford anymore friends and allies like old Donnie. The Orange messiah wants to annex, assimilate territory just as conquering heroes of the 1800s. But really is paper tiger Russia worthy of being an enemy? The rag tag Ukraine army makes fools of the not might Russian military. Tulsi Gabbard is actually right, Russia is reacting to Ukraine as a hostile threat on the door steps of Moscow. What if both Russia and Ukraine are brought in to EU and use cheap Russian energy?? Maybe Europe recession will not become a depression. If Europe quits Believing American Propaganda, they would be better off.
Both Russia and China are acting very much like enemies, with cyber warfare, agitprop in the West, fifth column activity in much of Eastern Europe, calble-cutting at sea, an advanced programme of theft of Western military technology, a serious threat in space and so on. They are stretching gray zone warfare to the very edge of a hot war.
There is no chance of Russia fitting in the EU. It would have to conform to a whole series of reforms – free and fair elections, an independent judiciary, free press, and so on, and that’s before needing to fix its economy, end state corruption, cease belligerent gray zone actions etc etc. And of course stop the invasion of Ukraine.
There is no chance at all of Putin doing any of that and Europe is not about to play footsie with an aggressive, expansionist, autocratic kleptocracy on its doorstep.
Russia is a dictatorship. The original revolution just replaced one with another much worse. Millions have died since. Russia would never fit in the EU & I have doubts about Ukraine also. Not all of EU is in NATO & not all of NATO is in EU (leaving aside NA). Personally I would rate NATO way ahead of EU. UK pulled out of EU for a reason. Norway never joined (smarter than most). Ukraine could definitely fit in NATO. EU is not the way they think.
CSG 25 does raise serious questions about our overall strategy.
On the one hand, no matter who its President is, the USA remains the leading economy and military power underpinning Western democracy and the rule of international law. The USA provides military support and guarantees to Europe and Pacific allies alike and it behoves all allies to support the USA in deterring Chinese expansionism in the Pacific.
On the other hand, the UK has no aircraft or troops to spare for action in the Pacifis and the RN can only field a carrier group in peactime, at the expense of having next to nothing.to carry out our ASW and sea control role in the Eastern Atlantic. In wartime, we would not be able to field a CSG for action east of Suez. So the strategic conundrum is.clear; we have an obligation to assist our principal ally but can’t , with our very reducrd force levels, be be in two places at once to do so. In trying to do both, we are just ensuring we are weak everywhere.
The strategic priority has to be defence of the home, European theatre and its seas. The best answer to assist the USA and our other allies in the Pacific would be a joint NATO Europe carrier fleet able to relieve the USN in the Gulf and Indian Ocean or deploy to the SCS for peacetime exercises and wartime operations as part of the US fleet.
Europe has 7 carriers, collectively we should be able to deploy a strong carrier strike group and ideally.two such, rather than one weak British one. This would have a far bigger impact on Chinese thinking. Instead of facing a US fleet ti its East, it would have to face up to a European fleet to its South. Which would be something of a game changer.
The RN would be an important part of that, but the days of Britain sending a fleet to engage in a foreign peer war are well behind us now, with our very limited number of warships and naval fighter aircraft.
Strategy would thus be primarily defence of the Europe/Atlantic theatre, with a limited contribution to.a European fleet east of Suez.
The strategic
What is there to defend in Europe? Whatever way the Ukraine war ends, Russia is a spent force. They no longer can invade Europe by land. Russia in the Mediterranean is not worth worrying about. Black Sea fleet no longer exists. Baltic can be shut down easily. North Atlantic their only European sphere with room to move. Without a Russian carrier, P8 can operate unhindered with the odd E7 to check. Fighter jets don’t play well with submarines. Better to be operating in the Indo-Pacific where carriers can operate as intended.