Royal Navy flagship to be placed under direct Nato command for the first time
HMS Prince of Wales has been moved to Nato command in a European first, the Defence Secretary has announced, as two ministers visit Italy to mark the occasion.
The 65,000-tonne aircraft carrier and her F-35 fighter jets have just finished Exercise Falcon Strike in the Mediterranean, John Healey revealed.
Mr Healey and Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper are visiting Naples, where they will host their Italian counterparts on board the vessel.
This latest change means that Nato will be in control of a carrier strike group, including HMS Prince of Wales, its support ships, and the F-35 fighter jets, for the first time.
"We are in a new era of threat that demands a new era for defence," the Defence Secretary said. "Our strength comes from hard power and strong alliances, so it is fitting to mark this moment alongside one of our closest Nato allies in Italy.
"Their [Rome's] F-35s have been operating from the carrier to demonstrate the deep partnership between our militaries."
The Royal Air Force's F-35B Lightnings have recently completed Ex Falcon Strike in Italy with aircraft and crew from four other countries.
During the exercise, the fighter jets carried out live-fly missions with other fourth- and fifth-generation aircraft to improve their ability to operate together in difficult combat environments.
Mr Healey said that handing Nato leadership over the Carrier Strike Group 25 was an example of the UK's "Nato-first" plan, which was set out in the Strategic Defence Review earlier this year.
The pair of ministers will hold talks with Italian defence minister Guido Crosetto and foreign minister Antonio Tajani about efforts to bolster Europe against Russia and countering hybrid threats to the continent's security.
Ms Cooper said "partnerships we build abroad make us stronger at home".
"With Italy, we are developing the fighter jets of the future, supporting thousands of British jobs and delivering security to Nato in the Mediterranean and across Europe," she added.
"These joint exercises in the Bay of Naples are the clearest demonstration of how the UK is working with our allies to keep our continent safe, deterring our adversaries and enhancing our ability to respond together to emerging threats."
After the port stop in Naples, CSG25 will go on to participate in a major Nato exercise, Neptune Strike, training the alliance's ability to strike targets at sea, launch jets from aircraft carriers and make amphibious landings.
The CSG25 deployment, also known as Operation Highmast, involves around 4,500 British military personnel, including nearly 600 RAF and 900 soldiers, alongside 2,500 Royal Navy sailors and Royal Marines.
The deployment highlights the UK's commitment to Indo-Pacific security and the rules-based international order.
For more reports about Carrier Strike Group 25, click here.
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