Starmer: Aircraft carrier voyage to Indo-Pacific ‘clear message of strength’

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer will join sailors and other personnel on HMS Prince of Wales.

By contributor David Hughes, PA Political Editor
Published
HMS Prince of Wales
The Royal Navy aircraft carrier, HMS Prince of Wales, sailed from Portsmouth Naval Base (PA)

The Prime Minister will visit the Royal Navy’s flagship aircraft carrier as it prepares to head towards the Indo-Pacific.

Sir Keir Starmer will visit sailors, aviators, soldiers and Royal Marines on the HMS Prince of Wales.

The vessel, which set off from Portsmouth on Tuesday, will travel to the Mediterranean, Middle East, south-east Asia, Japan and Australia on an eight-month voyage, accompanied by escort ships from international allies.

HMS Prince of Wales
HMS Prince of Wales sailed from Portsmouth on Tuesday (Andrew Matthews/PA)

The Prime Minister, who will see the UK’s F-35 warplanes deployed on the carrier, said the operation sent a “clear message of strength to our adversaries”.