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France is preparing to deploy its nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, Charles de Gaulle, to the Indo-Pacific region on an extended mission. This deployment, which is expected to include several escort vessels, will mark key first-time visits to Japan and the Philippines.
The Charles de Gaulle—the only nuclear-powered aircraft carrier outside the U.S. fleet—will embark on a route that spans the eastern Mediterranean, the Red Sea, the Indian Ocean, and potentially the farthest reaches of the Pacific. This deployment will coincide with the carrier’s mandatory technical overhaul, which is due after two years of service, providing a unique opportunity for the extended mission.
According to Interesting Engineering, accompanying the Charles de Gaulle will be a formidable group of vessels, including an air defense destroyer, two frigates, a nuclear-powered attack submarine, and a logistics vessel. The carrier’s air wing will consist of 24 Rafale Marine fighter jets, four helicopters, and an early-warning aircraft, ensuring a robust operational capability across the region.
The French Carrier Strike Group (CSG) will engage in several key military exercises during its deployment. First, it will participate in the Varuna exercise with the Indian Navy, followed by the biennial La Perouse exercise, which will involve the Philippine Navy, Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, and the Australian Navy. This marks the first time Southeast Asian nations will participate in the La Perouse drills, which will take place in the Indian Ocean south of Indonesia. Following these, the CSG is expected to conduct Exercise Pacific Steller in waters near Guam.
The deployment of the Charles de Gaulle to this strategic region comes at a time of heightened tensions in the Indo-Pacific, particularly in light of China’s growing military assertiveness. China’s territorial disputes with Japan, the Philippines, and other neighboring nations have added to regional instability. If the French carrier group does visit Japan and the Philippines, it would send a strong diplomatic signal to Beijing, further reinforcing France’s commitment to security in the Indo-Pacific.
China has not yet commented on the planned deployment, but it’s clear that the mission by the Charles de Gaulle will not go unnoticed in Beijing.
