UK CSG Taking Part In Major Mediterranean Exercise

Royal Navy flagship HMS Prince of Wales and the rest of the U.K. Carrier Strike Group are participating in Med Strike, the first major Mediterranean exercise of the CSG’s eight-month Operation Highmast mission to the Far East.

As per a recent Royal Navy press statement, the CSG reached the south coast of Italy on Sunday. Since yesterday (Monday), the aircraft carrier and the rest of the flotilla have been taking part in NATO exercise Med Strike, which will run until Sunday.

The week-long manoeuvres in the Ionian Sea will involve two carrier strike groups, 21 warships, three submarines, 41 jets, 19 helicopters, ten patrol aircraft and more than 8,000 personnel. 

The other carrier strike group participating is headed by the host nation, Italy, and its flagship ITS Cavour. Besides the U.K. and the host nation, the other countries taking part are Canada, France, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Türkiye and the United States.

U.K. CSG Commander Commodore James Blackmore commented: “This is a major moment in the U.K. Carrier Strike Group’s global deployment and will test our skills alongside NATO allies in a region of fundamental importance to U.K. security.” 

He added: “It is with great pride that we begin operations in the Mediterranean. I know U.K. and allied service personnel on the warships and aircraft of the Strike Group stand ready to deliver.

“Working at the heart of a powerful NATO force sends a strong message and shows clearly the phenomenal capabilities that not only the U.K. possesses but the alliance as a whole.”

The U.K. CSG has also recently concluded Exercise Neptune Strike, part of a mission to maintain security in the Euro-Atlantic region, alongside assets from Bulgaria, Canada, France, Greece, Italy, Northern Macedonia, Portugal, Romania, Türkiye and the U.S.

As part of the eight-month Operation Highmast deployment the CSG is set to participate in a series of exercises and port visits in the Mediterranean Sea and the Indian and Pacific oceans, with partners including the U.S., India, Singapore, and Malaysia.

The CSG will also link up with 19 partner nations for Exercise Talisman Sabre near Australia, visit Japan, train alongside the Japanese Maritime Self Defence Force, and conduct a port visit to India.

• You can read more details about Exercise Med Strike on the Royal Navy website