Royal Navy is training personnel to lead in more uncertain times, Armed Forces Minister says
The Royal Navy is training sailors to lead in more uncertain times, the Armed Forces Minister has said.
Luke Pollard made the comments in an interview with BFBS Forces News during a visit to see 150 cadets pass out at Britannia Royal Naval College in Dartmouth.
Mr Pollard's visit to the college comes ahead of the Carrier Strike Group 25's deployment to the Indo-Pacific.
"This is about training the next generation of our officers in the latest technology, with the latest techniques, with the latest leadership skills to be able to lead the Royal Navy into more uncertain times that we're facing internationally," he said.
The minister described attending the event as a "special privilege" and a "real treat" as he could see the Royal Navy's future right before him.
With Carrier Strike Group 25 (CSG 25), led by the Royal Navy's flagship, HMS Prince of Wales, setting sail next week, the minister was keen to stress that it is showing the UK's and its allies' power to the world.
"It's also the opportunity to project, not just British sea power, but this Carrier Strike Group is multinational by design," he said.
The 65,000-tonne aircraft carrier is being joined by Type 45 destroyer HMS Dauntless and Type 23 frigate HMS Richmond, as well as by vessels from Canada, Spain and Norway.
Mr Pollard said that CSG 25 aims to demonstrate Britain's determination to uphold the rule of law and protect the freedom of navigation.
"This really is a statement of Britain's intent to uphold the rule of law, to make sure we can exercise freedom of navigation," he said.
"But, in these more uncertain times, we can project the power that we need to make sure that we are able to secure the future of not only the UK, but also our allies as well."
He said that the Government is investing in new ships and submarines like the new Type 26 and 31 frigates, the Astute-class submarines and drones.
Defence spending will rise to 2.5% of GDP by 2027, the Government announced back in February.
In the Spring Statement, Chancellor Rachel Reeves said that the defence budget will be boosted by £2.2bn in 2025/26, which takes the additional spending on defence to more than £5bn since the autumn budget.
Mr Pollard, whose father was an officer on submarines, told BFBS Forces News that the Government's increased investment in defence is not just in military hardware but also in people.
"But, it's not just about the hardware, the missiles, the platforms, it's about the people," he said.
"I think when you come to Dartmouth, just as when you go to Lympstone (home to the Royal Marines Commando Training Centre) or [HMS] Raleigh, you get a sense that it's the investment in the people that matters."
Britannia Royal Naval College is where the next generation of Royal Navy officers are given their initial officer training.
The naval college opened in 1905, and its first cadets arrived in 1908.
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