Indo-Pacific Insight Weekly: July 12th 2025
Philippines-Canada defence pact, China & global standards, India-South Korea shipbuilding, Malaysia & BRICS, growing Indonesia-France ties, Indo-Pacific deployments, Vietnam's pan-Asia shipping...
The Malacca Dilemma: China's Achilles' Heel
"China is the world’s largest energy consumer, accounting for 25% of global energy consumption and 15% of all oil used globally. Its total primary energy demand surged from 1,800 Mtoe in 2000 to over 4,500 Mtoe [Million tons of oil equivalent] in 2020. Since 2000, China’s oil consumption has quadrupled—from 3.5 million barrels per day (mb/d) to over 15 mb/d in 2025. In parallel, China has become the world’s second-largest consumer of LNG (maritime-supplied gas), accounting for 16% of global LNG demand."
"Nearly all maritime energy imports pass through a single strategic chokepoint: the Strait of Malacca. All of China’s energy sea lines of communication (SLOCs) converge through this strait. Each year, $3.5 trillion worth of trade—equivalent to one-third of global GDP—passes through the Strait of Malacca, including two-thirds of China’s total trade volume, over 83% of its oil imports, and approximately 16 mb/d of oil and 3.2 mb/d of LNG. Roughly 6.4 billion deadweight tons (dwt) of cargo pass through the strait annually, with about 10 vessels entering or exiting every hour. Most of these shipments consist of fossil fuels from the Middle East and Africa."
"Although China currently receives about 3.7 mb/d of oil through overland pipelines and plans to expand capacity to 9 mb/d, this still falls far short of covering the nearly 15 mb/d it consumes. In the short term, China’s dependence on the Strait of Malacca—and on maritime oil imports more broadly—is set to deepen."
India, Brazil, Argentina chart new economic vision for South-South collaboration
"India-Argentina bilateral cooperation has seen remarkable growth in recent years. Trade between the two nations peaked at USD 6.4 billion in 2022, with India emerging as Argentina’s fourth-largest trading partner. In 2024, annual bilateral trade rose by 33% to USD 5.23 billion, further solidifying India’s position as a key export destination for Argentina."
"Brazil remains India’s largest trading partner in South America, with bilateral trade reaching USD 12.2 billion in 2024–25. Indian investments in Brazil exceed USD 6 billion, spanning sectors like pharma, automobiles, and energy. Brazilian investments in India, meanwhile, focus on mining, steel, and bio-energy."
"Brazil’s Embraer has established a subsidiary in New Delhi, signalling the seriousness of bilateral partnerships in aerospace and defence. Indian defence exports, such as indigenous solutions for AWACS systems and transport aircraft, offer both strategic autonomy and opportunities to foster innovation ecosystems in both regions. Argentina, too, presents avenues for defence technology partnerships in areas like surveillance, maritime logistics, and shared security. These collaborations not only strengthen bilateral ties but also enhance regional stability in the Southern Hemisphere."
Philippines to sign troops pact with Canada as defence ties deepen
"The agreement would establish a framework for increased military and defence cooperation and collaboration between the two nations and improve interoperability between their forces, the Philippines' defence ministry said in a statement."
"In 2023, the Philippines and Canada signed an arrangement for the use of Ottawa's Dark Vessel Detection system to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing by vessels that have switched off their location transmitters to evade detection."
"Last year, the Philippines ratified a reciprocal access agreement with Japan, the first of its kind that Tokyo has signed in Asia, that would allow their militaries to deploy on each other's soil."
China's Housing Crisis Is Worse Than It Seems
"But the number of Chinese urban dwellers aged 28-32 peaked in 2019 – and the real-estate bubble burst shortly thereafter. Now, the real-estate sector – which, at its 2020-21 peak, contributed 25% of total GDP and 38% of government revenue – is blighted by weak demand, falling construction, and severe overcapacity. Declining prices have decimated household wealth, with losses equivalent to China’s annual economic output. This has undermined consumption, employment, borrowing, and investment."
"The crisis that is brewing in China is more severe than the one Japan faced. For starters, China’s housing bubble is much larger. For example, residential investment, as a share of GDP, was about 1.5 times higher in China in 2020 than in Japan in 1990. Property accounted for about 70% of Chinese households’ total assets in 2020, compared to around 50% in Japan in 1990. China’s price-to-income ratio today is more than twice that of Japan in 1990."
"Moreover, China’s fertility rate is lower. Whereas Japan experienced a second surge of first-time homebuyers a decade after the first, China can look forward to no such thing. The share of the population over the age of 65 is increasing much faster in China than it did in Japan: it took Japan 28 years to get where China will get between now and 2040. During that period (1997-2025), Japanese GDP growth averaged just 0.6% annually."
Japan, Canada sign intel-sharing pact to boost defense cooperation
"In a joint press announcement after their talks in Tokyo, Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya and his Canadian counterpart Anita Anand also welcomed the start of mass imports of Canadian liquefied natural gas by the Japanese private sector earlier this month."
"With growing security challenges including China and North Korea in mind, Japan has already signed similar intelligence-sharing agreements with the United States, Britain and Australia -- all members of the Five Eyes alliance alongside Canada and New Zealand."
Can India's IMEC trade corridor vision become a reality?
"IMEC isn’t just another infrastructure project; it’s a multi-billion-dollar gamble. While $20 billion has been pledged, mostly by Saudi Arabia and the UAE, the EU is yet to roll out a solid investment plan. And considering each section of the corridor could cost about $3 to $8 billion, funding gaps remain a major concern."
"There’s also the cost of logistics. Nearly 40% of IMEC’s route is rail, and rail freight is three times costlier than ocean freight. Add the constant loading, unloading, and reloading of cargo between ships and trains, and costs could quickly spiral."
"China has mocked IMEC as a 'knockoff' of its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) route. And it has reasons to be smug. China produces 3 million shipping containers a year, while India barely makes 20,000 to 30,000. So, if China decides to restrict container supply to India, it could slow IMEC’s rollout. And something more concerning here is Haifa, the crucial Israeli port on IMEC’s route. The catch? Two parties - Adani Group and a Chinese company called SIPG - run it. And that gives China significant leverage over the corridor's operations as well."
Building Bridges: Euro-Indo-Pacific Cooperation for resilient FIMI Strategies
Hague Centre for Strategic Studies
"At the bilateral level, there are multiple noticeable examples of cooperation. Among these, the EU-Japan Security and Defence Partnership of 2023 laid the groundwork for a closer security partnership, including in disinformation and information manipulation.21 Both sides share concerns over state-sponsored FIMI [Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference] activities and are exploring joint responses, though operational initiatives remain nascent. Similar nascent efforts have been undertaken with other actors in the region. For example, India and the EU have completed their eight India-EU Cyber Dialogue, a set of fora where issues concerning the cyberspace – including FIMI – are discussed by both parts. Although the cooperation is still at an early stage, there is potential for further expansion of such collaboration. In comparison, more structured cooperation frameworks have been established between the EU and South Korea. The 2023 ROK’s summit with the EU elevated security cooperation to include countering disinformation alongside cyber defence. Regular EU-ROK strategic dialogues are being set up, signalling closer coordination against FIMI. However, concrete joint programmes are still underdeveloped."
"More broadly, the EU engages ASEAN on information integrity through capacity building and human rights frameworks. In January 2024, the ASEAN human rights body, AICHR, and the EU held a joint Disinformation and Misinformation Dialogue to share best practices, know-how and foster a common understanding. The EU supported programmes like the Enhanced Regional EU-ASEAN Dialogue Instrument (E-READI) to facilitate such exchanges. At the same time, the consensus-based approach within the ASEAN and its varying political will with regards to FIMI could hinder any deeper and structural cooperation."
Standardisation with Chinese Characteristics?
Clingendael, Netherlands Institute of International Relations
"Standardisation is emerging as a strategic battleground in global technological competition. Once confined to the realm of technical experts and engineers, standard-setting now plays a central role in shaping industrial ecosystems, global trade, interoperability, innovation flows and dependencies embedded in digital infrastructures and applications, ranging from 5G to AI chips and from steel quality to digital public passports. As the geopolitical dimension of technology becomes more pronounced, the ability to influence standards is a key driver to competitiveness and sovereignty."
"The active role of the government in China’s standardisation approach is evident in the multitude of state bodies involved in the process. The Standardisation Administration of China (SAC), operating under the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) and the State Council, primarily sets overall strategies and oversees China’s standardisation efforts. SAC is responsible for strategic coordination, project approval and represents China in the ISO and IEC. In the ITU, China is represented by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT). National and sector standards are developed by Technical Committees (TCs), composed of experts from both the public and private sectors. TCs report to their corresponding ministries, on a sector basis."
Growing or Shrinking? How Indonesia's Middle Class is Really Doing
"Indonesia’s middle class is the backbone of its economy whose growth relies mostly on household consumption. The middle class accounted for 38.3 per cent of total household consumption in 2024. They also pay a significant share of all indirect tax revenues and help create jobs as business owners. There has, however, been some debate about whether Indonesia’s middle class is shrinking or growing. It is important to get the narrative right."
"Relatedly, financial savings are also drawn down. The monthly growth of third-party funds in savings accounts under IDR100 million has steadily declined since January 2018, from 8.5 per cent to below five per cent in January 2024. The average balance per savings account below IDR100 million dropped by 40 per cent between 2019 and 2024."
"The middle class generally relies on holding good and secure jobs to afford middle class lifestyles, as a World Bank jobs report shows. But the quality of jobs has been deteriorating with the informality rate increasing from 49.5 per cent in 2018 to 51.5 per cent in 2023 (Figure 2), and underemployment increasing from 28.8 per cent in 2018 to 31.0 per cent in 2023."
A Streamlined Agenda as Quad Cooperation Continues
"Over the past several months, to little notice, the Quad has been continuing to cooperate in a variety of ways. The four countries’ activities include a joint sail by the four countries’ Coast Guards to Guam, a simulation to leverage each other’s logistics for humanitarian assistance, the sale of sensors to India for the Quad's maritime initiatives, a workshop on pandemic preparedness, and coordinating humanitarian assistance with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) for the earthquake in Myanmar. The Quad was also highlighted in the United States’ joint statements with India and Japan in February 2025. These statements mentioned priorities such as delivering infrastructure investments, deploying telecommunication networks, and conducting joint maritime patrols in the Indo-Pacific region."
From Rhetoric to Realignment? Anwar Ibrahim and the BRICS Question
S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies
"More importantly, full membership, even if it were to happen, is not imminent. The Brazilian BRICS Presidency has confirmed that the July 2025 summit will not discuss membership expansion. The earliest consideration would be in 2026."
"Even then, Malaysia cannot assume that its admission is assured. Despite expressing interest later than Malaysia, Indonesia was the sole Southeast Asian country admitted as a member – its application was fast-tracked. Even if China and Russia support Malaysia’s candidacy, others may not. India may object due to Malaysia’s stance on Kashmir and its perceived closeness with Beijing. Regional partners, such as Indonesia, may view Malaysia’s potential BRICS membership as competition to their strategic interests in the bloc and may hesitate to support its admission. Given that BRICS decisions on new members require unanimous approval, these dynamics make Malaysia’s path to membership a particularly high bar."
"...the government has not been able to demonstrate clear benefits of joining BRICS. Currently, most of Malaysia's trade with BRICS members is with China and India. It is uncertain how much additional value full membership would actually confer. Moreover, its immediate priority is to negotiate reductions in the tariffs imposed by the Trump administration on Malaysian exports, given their direct impact on the national economy."
Indonesia: Prabowo's populism clashes with economic realities
The Interpreter, Lowy Institute
"Prabowo announced a new sovereign wealth fund in February 2025, dubbed 'Danantara', that acts as a holding company for the country’s many state-owned enterprises. The new institution has less transparency and fewer safeguards than Indonesia’s first sovereign wealth fund and sits directly under the President’s office while bypassing the Ministry of Finance. This centralises control of key state assets and organisations towards the President and reduces influence of a key technocratic institution. The administration also rushed through legal revisions that loosened restrictions on active military officers holding government posts. Both announcements triggered negative market reactions and are seen as a regression from Jokowi-era and Reformasi norms, and a reversion to authoritarian tendencies in the New Order era."
"The current administration has also moved away from Jokowi-era infrastructure spending to focus on lower-income groups and food security, with the free nutritious meals program a flagship initiative. While the program is politically popular, questions about its fiscal sustainability and efficacy have plagued its rollout. Projected to cost an eye-watering $44 billion annually when fully implemented, eight per cent of the rest of the national budget was cut to finance the policy."
India-UK Trade Deal Sets a New Benchmark for India's Digital Trade
Observer Research Foundation America
"In early May, India and the United Kingdom (UK) announced the conclusion of their free trade agreement (FTA), touted as the most comprehensive trade deal India has ever signed. While the full text of the agreement has yet to be released, it is clear that the digital trade chapter marks a notable development in India’s trade policy. Out of the 21 free or preferential trade agreements signed by India, only two — with Singapore and the United Arab Emirates — include a chapter on digital trade. However, both those chapters were either limited in scope or couched in non-binding language. By contrast, the India-UK FTA reflects a significant deepening of India’s digital commitments. The commitments, particularly on cross-border data flows, source code protection, and the prohibition of customs duties on electronic transmissions, will not only shape India’s digital governance trajectory but also influence its negotiations with the European Union (EU) and the United States."
"The India-UK FTA reflects a significant shift in India’s digital trade approach. The commitments it makes, particularly on customs duties on electronic transmissions, data flows, and source code protection, will serve as benchmarks in India’s ongoing negotiations with the EU and the United States. As such, the India-UK digital trade chapter may well shape the trajectory of India’s approach to digital trade in the years to come."
Learning from China to compete with China
"Beijing's current growth model envisages maximizing manufacturing exports and keeping higher value-added production and technology onshore. Offshore investment is tolerated to circumvent tariff barriers. But Beijing has made clear that its preference is for foreign investments to focus on final assembly. Export controls have recently been proposed to limit the creation of complete battery supply chains outside China. With youth unemployment stubbornly high and a sensitive issue politically, Beijing has no incentive to repeat what it sees as the mistakes of the West in offshoring manufacturing jobs."
"Concurrently, Brussels is wielding an array of defensive trade tools to shape Chinese investment. One prominent EU Commission official plainly warned that the EU is 'not interested in investments that are simple assembly operations without added value and without technology transfer'. The European Commission’s investigation into BYD's EV investment in Hungary under the Foreign Subsidies Regulation (FSR) was widely understood to be a shot across the bow of Beijing's preferred final assembly model."
"Brussels has also proposed through its March 2025 Automotive Action Plan to institute local content requirements for EV batteries, as well as making approval of Chinese automotive investments contingent on technology transfer. Dangling access to a vast internal market to force technology transfer is a tactic that would be intimately familiar to Chinese policymakers of years past."
China plans major aid initiative as N. Korea relations warm
"China intends to make this year a turning point for substantially boosting bilateral cooperation with North Korea, particularly by developing border regions like North Pyongan, Ryanggang, Chagang, and North Hamgyong provinces into strategic exchange hubs."
" 'The Chinese embassy’s charge d’affaires, Feng Chuntai, also visited Chongjin and Rason in North Hamgyong province. The Chinese are positioning Chongjin - home to a Chinese consulate - as a northeastern strategic hub and Rason - a major export port and investment destination - as a key gateway for trilateral exchanges between North Korea and China-Russia,' the source added."
HD Hyundai Partners Up With Indian Shipbuilder Cochin
"South Korea has some of the world's most advanced shipyards, but a shortage of skilled labor is a constant hurdle, and the nation's shipbuilders are increasingly dependent upon foreign workers recruited from Vietnam and Thailand. Some Korean shipbuilders are experimenting with foreign yard locations, like Samsung's block-building yard in China or HD Hyundai's newly reopened facility in Subic Bay. These ventures use Korean shipbuilding know-how and technology, but located in areas where there is a large available workforce."
"Like other foreign partnerships, the objective of the deal with Cochin is to ‘transplant Korean shipbuilding DNA’ into India, HD Hyundai said in a statement. Cochin is majority state-owned, and is the largest government yard in India. It can build complex vessels, including India's aircraft carriers, and has delivered 70 ships of various sizes over the past five years (including 10 warships)."
Between the Eagle and the Dragon: India's Strategic Space Dilemma
"India's space posture is inextricably linked to China's. The PLA's impressive expansion of space-based assets, highly manoeuvrable satellites, and suspected orbital weapons platforms have not gone unnoticed in New Delhi. CSIS describes China as having developed 'a formidable on-orbit counterspace arsenal,' with a combination of kinetic, non-kinetic, electronic, and cyber capabilities. This includes satellites that can shadow, jam, or even physically disable rivals."
"While India cannot match China's pace satellite-for-satellite or dollar-for-dollar, it is pursuing asymmetric capabilities—low-cost, dual-use, modular platforms—that can be rapidly deployed if deterrence fails. India's expanding network of surveillance satellites (Cartosat, EMISAT) and growing participation in joint tracking efforts (such as with the U.S. and Japan) reflects a hedging strategy: prepare quietly, engage multilaterally, and maintain escalation control."
"Strategically, India also benefits from geography. Positioned far from the key theatres of Pacific confrontation, it can shape its own doctrine without being locked into the U.S.-China binary. But as China's space presence expands over the Indian Ocean region and into Africa, that buffer is rapidly shrinking."
2050 initiative deepens French-Indonesian strategic cooperation
"France and Indonesia have elevated their bilateral relationship with the launch of Joint Vision 2050, a landmark initiative unveiled during French President Emmanuel Macron's state visit to Jakarta in late May 2025. Anchored in long-term strategic objectives, the pact signals a deepening of defense cooperation that could significantly influence the evolving security architecture of the Indo-Pacific."
"He said the agreement reaches beyond arms sales, with expanded programs for joint training, technology transfer and defense education. Macron and Prabowo visited the Indonesian Military Academy in Magelang, highlighting efforts to enhance tactical and operational cooperation. France has invited Indonesian cadets to study at its military institutions and participate in joint training to boost interoperability and capacity building."
"France's long-term military presence in the region — underscored by recent deployments of the French Navy aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle to Indonesian waters — reflects its broader Indo-Pacific strategy, analysts say."
Problematic Stall: Indonesia-Vietnam EEZ Maritime Delimitation Agreement
S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies
"During the meeting between President Prabowo Subianto and Communist Party of Vietnam Secretary General To Lam in March 2025, the former reiterated Indonesia's commitment to ratifying the EEZ delimitation agreement. In late April, the Indonesian parliamentary commission overseeing the agreement held hearings with experts, who positively described the value of the agreement as an opportunity to resolve issues with Vietnam and strengthen the Indonesian position in the South China Sea disputes. Then, in May 2025, Nico Siahaan, a lawmaker with that commission, told the media that it was set to ratify the agreement within the week. However, despite all these positive gestures, ratification remains incomplete."
"There may be multiple factors behind the stall, but insiders point to a China factor. The EEZ agreement involves sea space within China's Nine-Dash Line claim, and a Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman has stated that China was in close communication with Indonesia and Vietnam as the negotiations could undermine stability in the South China Sea and the states' bilateral relations with China. It seems likely that such diplomatic communications from Beijing are an important factor in the ratification roadblock.
"Ratification of the agreement would provide an important clarification of Indonesia's stance on the Nine-Dash Line. The Indonesia-China Joint Statement issued during President Prabowo's 2024 visit to China acknowledged an "overlapping claim" between Indonesia and China. Thus, although the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has clarified that Indonesia does not recognise the Nine-Dash Line, scholars (including one of the co-authors and others) point out that it is difficult to understand this interpretation since China's only claims to this area relate to the Nine-Dash Line. Ratifying the agreement would put this debate to rest by documenting Indonesia's position in law."
Indo-Pacific Endeavour 2025 kicks off as Australia steps up regional engagement
"Now in its ninth year, Indo-Pacific Endeavour (IPE) 2025 will span six months, delivering an expanded program of defence and diplomatic engagements across Southeast Asia and the North East Indian Ocean."
"The initiative will see Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel and interagency representatives working alongside counterparts in Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Maldives, the Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Timor-Leste, and Vietnam."
"Led by Commander IPE 2025, Brigadier Jennifer Harris, CSC, this year's program emphasises practical cooperation across a wide range of focus areas, including maritime security, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, English language training, peacekeeping, professional military education and the integration of emerging technologies."
Japan to export used destroyers to Philippines to deter China, Yomiuri reports
"The export plan involves six Abukuma-class destroyer escorts in service with the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force for more than three decades, the Japanese daily said, citing multiple unnamed government sources."
"Bilateral military cooperation has included joint exercises, a Japanese radar aid package and a high-level strategic dialogue. Last year they signed a reciprocal access agreement, the first such for Japan in Asia, allowing deployment of forces on each other's soil."
"The Abukuma-class destroyer escort, a relatively small type of destroyer with a 2,000-ton standard displacement, is operated by a crew of about 120 and is armed with anti-submarine and anti-ship missiles, torpedo tubes and guns, according to a Japanese navy website."
Hainan Opens Middle East Media Center
"During the ceremony, Hainan Broadcasting Group (HBG), the provincial-level radio and television conglomerate that along with the Hainan International Media Center (HIMC) forms two of the province's three primary external propaganda outlets, signed a strategic cooperation agreement with China Arab TV (中阿卫视). The partnership will focus on programming about Hainan's free trade port 'institutional innovation,' industry openness and trade facilitation, as well as cooperation between Hainan and the UAE."
"Though formally referred to as a 'media center,' HIMC is Hainan province's answer to Xi Jinping's call for the nationwide creation of what are known as 'international communication centers,' or ICCs. These centers have proliferated across China since 2018 as part of a broader program under Xi intended to modernize the Party-led global propaganda system. The initiative gained further momentum in the wake of Xi's May 31, 2021 call at a Politburo study session to revolutionize Party-state communication with the goal of making China 'credible, lovable and respected' (可信 | 可爱 | 可敬). At the Third Plenum in July last year, he again urged what state media described as 'important deployments' to 'construct a more effective international communication system' (构建更有效力的国际传播体系)."
From Buyers To Partners: Technology Sharing And Industrial Gains In The Indo–US Defence Pact – OpEd
"India and the United States are on the cusp of formalizing a landmark ten-year Defence Framework Agreement, expected to be signed in the third quarter of 2025 during the 2+2 ministerial dialogue in Washington DC. This agreement marks a decisive shift in bilateral defence cooperation, not only strengthening strategic alignment in the Indo-Pacific but also delivering substantial economic benefits to firms in both countries. Beyond its immediate commercial potential, the pact lays the groundwork for a deeper technology partnership, embedding co-development, indigenous production, and supply chain integration at its core."
"On the Indian side, the agreement aligns squarely with the Atmanirbhar Bharat—or Self-Reliant India—initiative, offering local firms a chance to climb the value chain through technology inflows and participation in global supply networks. Leading private-sector players like Tata Advanced Systems, Larsen & Toubro, and Bharat Forge are preparing to collaborate with US partners in areas such as aerospace, electronics, and unmanned systems. The agreement is also expected to catalyze the MRO sector, with India projected to emerge as a regional hub for maintaining US-origin origin platforms across Asia. This, in turn, is poised to generate high-value jobs and strengthen India's defence industrial base."
Hai An Lines Expands Service Network: Strengthening Vietnam–China–Cambodia Connectivity
"The new service connecting to Cambodia is scheduled to commence operations by the end of June 2025. This service will call at the following ports: Nansha – Lianyungang – Hai Phong – Da Nang – Ho Chi Minh City – Phnom Penh, supporting trade flows within the Greater Mekong Subregion."
"The second service, named ECX, will enhance connectivity to Lianyungang Port – a key gateway on China's eastern seaboard. ECX is slated to launch in July 2025, with the rotation: Ho Chi Minh City – Da Nang – Hai Phong – Lianyungang – Hai Phong – Da Nang – Ho Chi Minh City."
"With the addition of these two services, Hai An's fleet now operates a total of six intra-Asia container shipping routes, offering direct and efficient cargo connectivity between Vietnam and major markets such as China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, India, and Cambodia. This strategic expansion further strengthens Hai An's role in the regional supply chain and contributes to the growth of international maritime trade."
The navies of the United Kingdom, France, and Italy are planning a coordinated deployment of their aircraft carriers to the Indo-Pacific
"In the context of the deployment of the aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales and its Strike Group to the Indo-Pacific, the United Kingdom has confirmed that it is spearheading a proposal for France and Italy to join in a series of coordinated carrier missions in the region—aimed at clearly demonstrating Europe's commitment to the security of its allies. The initiative would fall under the framework of the European Carrier Group Interoperability Initiative (ECGII), whose main objective is to enhance the ability of European navies to operate together as part of a combined Strike Group."
"So far, both the HMS Prince of Wales and the Italian carrier ITS Cavour have already trained together this past May while the British vessel was transiting the Mediterranean en route to the Indo-Pacific. The joint exercises, dubbed Mediterranean Strike 25, enabled both carriers to operate alongside a force of more than 24 warships (including 3 submarines), 41 fighter jets, 10 maritime patrol and surveillance aircraft, 19 embarked helicopters, and a total of 8,000 personnel. Meanwhile, the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle concluded its own five-month Indo-Pacific deployment in April—dubbed Clemenceau 25—which involved the carrier, three frigates, a replenishment ship, and a nuclear-powered attack submarine."
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Disclaimer: Headlines, and content selections, presented here are taken directly from the referenced articles and online platforms, and do not reflect any personal value judgment, statement or opinion. I make no warranty as to the accuracy, completeness, or truthfulness of the content of these articles. All news and information presented should be carefully scrutinized, considering the credibility of each source, the documented or discernible facts, the statements presented, and the strength of supporting evidence. Readers should form their own conclusions through the application of informed critical analysis. In detail >