UK deepens its military ties in the Indo-Pacific with busy summer of major exercises

The Armed Forces have been reinforcing their military presence in the Indo-Pacific, with hundreds of personnel taking part in a series of major multinational exercises across land, sea and air.

Members of the Royal Navy, Royal Marines and Royal Air Force collaborated with nearly 30 international partners in exercises spanning Australia, India and Hawaii.

One of the key deployments saw six RAF Typhoons and a Voyager refuelling aircraft flying more than 9,000 miles to Australia to participate in Exercise Pitch Black, where they joined more than 140 aircraft from 20 different nations.

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The journey to Australia, named Griffin Strike, was carried out in conjunction with the French Air and Space Force, symbolising deepening Franco-British defence ties during the 120th anniversary of the Entente Cordiale.

The Royal Marines also took part in amphibious warfighting exercises on the northern shores of Australia during Exercise Predators Run, collaborating with forces from Australia, the United States and the Philippines.

These exercises allowed the Commandos to refine their skills in deploying from small boats and leading assaults onto land.

In Hawaii, two RAF P-8A Poseidon aircraft joined 28 other nations for the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercises.

This marked the longest and most extensive deployment of the RAF's state-of-the-art maritime patrol aircraft, which specialises in anti-submarine warfare and search and rescue missions.

This week, an RAF contingent of 130 personnel, six Typhoons, two Voyagers and an A400M Atlas transport aircraft arrived in India to participate in Tarang Shakti, India's largest multinational air exercise.

Defence Secretary John Healey emphasised the importance of these deployments, saying: "Euro-Atlantic security is inextricably linked to stability in the Indo-Pacific.

"These deployments of the Royal Air Force, Royal Navy and Royal Marines strengthen our bonds and interoperability with our important partners."

Looking ahead, aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales is scheduled to deploy to the Indo-Pacific next year, further demonstrating the UK's ongoing commitment to the region.

In 2025, the Prince of Wales Carrier Strike Group will engage in exercises with regional partners and allies to promote a free and open Indo-Pacific.

These multinational exercises reflect the UK's strategic emphasis on a region that is vital to global trade and the UK economy.