HMS Spey strengthens security of vital sea lanes in Indo-Pacific as part of major exercise

Royal Navy warship HMS Spey is joining France and other nations in the Indo-Pacific for a major military mission aimed at safeguarding vital sea lanes.

After a quick stop in Indonesia, she'll be heading off to La Perouse 25, a multinational naval exercise led by the French Navy.

The Portsmouth-based second-generation River Class offshore patrol vessel will be enhancing maritime safety and security with eight other countries – Canada, the US, Malaysia, Indonesia, India, Australia, and Singapore.

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The fifth edition of the exercise will foster collective response capabilities in the strategic maritime corridors of the Malacca, Sunda, and Lombok Straits.

Spearheading the mission will be the French Carrier Strike Group, the centrepiece of France's naval power – designed to conduct a wide range of missions, from high-intensity combat operations to humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.

As well as strengthening regional partnerships, the event focuses on diverse maritime security operations, including surface warfare, anti-air warfare, air defence, cross-deck landings, and tactical manoeuvres.

The exercise is part of the broader Clemenceau 25 mission, a significant French military mission spanning the Mediterranean and Indo-Pacific regions.

Key exercises will centre around FS Charles de Gaulle, France's flagship aircraft carrier – the nuclear-powered vessel is the cornerstone of the French Navy's power and is capable of operating a fleet of up to 40 aircraft.

Previously, the vessel has sailed alongside the Royal Navy's former flagship, the aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth, in the Mediterranean.

This is the first military exercise HMS Spey is embarking on in 2025, following a series of successful missions and repairs last year.

In 2024, she demonstrated strength and unity with four Asia-Pacific nations during Exercise Bersama Lima, carried out patrols around the Korean Peninsula, and underwent repairs in the Greater Tokyo Area with the help of Japan Marine United in Yokosuka.

These are a few of the vessel's many key moments and she begins the new year – once again – providing support and strength in international waters.

In a post on social media, the ship's team said they're excited to be strengthening their shared commitment to the security of vital sea lanes.