Gen. Sir Gwyn Jenkins, First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff, has described Britain’s aircraft carriers as unmatched tools of influence, setting the UK apart in allied defence diplomacy.
Writing in Britain’s World, the online magazine of the Council on Geostrategy, Jenkins reflected on the Atlantic and Pacific Future Forum (PFF) held aboard HMS Prince of Wales in Tokyo Bay last month.
The event coincided with the UK Carrier Strike Group 2025 deployment.
“The PFF is important to me personally as the Chief of the Royal Navy because it helps me to bring together allies and industries in a unique format, and to engage in important discussions about what future defence and security means for our respective nations, our respective forces and our respective regions. It was a real success,” he said.
Jenkins noted that the carrier’s presence created a forum unlike the typical conference circuit. “In a world that is awash with conferences in anodyne theatres, the chance to come on board a British aircraft carrier, with its phenomenal convening power, is what set the PFF apart over the two days in Tokyo,” he wrote.
He also underlined the significance of engaging allies and industry alike. “The PFF brings together industry, allies and partners who contribute to the amazing capability of CSG2025, but who also have an investment and interest in seeing the UK’s defence – and the defence of our allies – develop into the future. I’ve been enthused by the depth of conversation, but also by the deeply thought intellectual debate about what the future of our forces should look like, and what the engagement between Europe and the Indo-Pacific should be.”
The full article, including contributions from Lord Sedwill, Stephen Watson and other senior figures, is available via Britain’s World: The Big Ask No. 38.2025.
I’ve been following CSG25 on its travels, primarily through Youtube. A few Japanese language videos about HMS POW’s visit to Tokyo came up on my feed and , thanks to the translate function, I was able to read a good number of Japanese comments. They seemed really impressed by the Royal Navy Carrier. The comment section on these videos were far kinder and encouraging than you often see on the English ones! I guess the trolls couldn’t be bothered with Japanese videos.