Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the policy paper entitled UK-France Joint Leaders' Declaration, published on 23 March 2023, what steps he has taken to demonstrate the sequencing of a more persistent European carrier strike group presence in the Indo-Pacific.

The UK and France, along with Italy, have jointly sequenced aircraft carrier deployments, including coordinating the deployment of HMS Prince of Wales with France's Charles de Gaulle and Italy's Cavour, to strengthen European naval presence in the Indo-Pacific. This cooperation, part of broader initiatives like the European Carrier Group Interoperability Initiative, enhances regional security and strategic alignment.