UK carrier strike group enters Red Sea amid Indo-Pacific deployment

The United Kingdom’s Carrier Strike Group (CSG), led by HMS Prince of Wales, has entered the Red Sea as part of Operation Highmast, the country’s most extensive naval deployment in recent years, according to the UK Defense Journal.

The task group, which transited the Suez Canal early Saturday morning, includes warships from several NATO allies: Canada’s HMCS Ville de Québec, Norway’s HNoMS Roald Amundsen and logistics vessel Maud, and Spain’s ESPS Méndez Núñez. HMS Richmond is expected to join the group shortly.

The eight-month operation aims to strengthen defense ties and project the UK’s presence across the Indo-Pacific. Activities will include joint exercises, regional port visits, and security patrols in coordination with the United States, Australia, and Japan, according to the UK Ministry of Defense (MoD).

"This deployment demonstrates our commitment to upholding regional stability and ensuring maritime freedom," the MoD said in a statement.

The carrier group integrates UK F-35B stealth jets, Merlin helicopters, unmanned systems, and allied platforms in a range of training and operational missions, including anti-submarine warfare and integrated air defense.

Royal Air Force (RAF) assets provided overwatch during the transit. Two Poseidon MRA1 maritime patrol aircraft were observed operating over the Sinai Peninsula Saturday morning.

In preparation for the transit, the RAF also reinforced its forward base at Akrotiri, Cyprus, deploying four Voyager aerial refueling aircraft from RAF Brize Norton earlier in May.

The deployment comes at a time of heightened tension in the Red Sea region. Despite a recent ceasefire agreement between the United States and Yemen's Houthi rebels, the UK is not a signatory.

The move follows the departure of the US aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman from the Red Sea, leaving the area temporarily without a US carrier presence. While the USS Carl Vinson remains in the wider region, British officials acknowledge the vulnerability of the UK-led group as it operates near conflict zones.

Last month, the UK participated in a joint airstrike with US forces against a Houthi military facility in Yemen, targeting infrastructure used to manufacture drones implicated in attacks on commercial shipping.

The Houthis accuse the British of aiding Israel in the war in Gaza, supplying weapons, spare parts and intelligence.

There has been no formal announcement of the manoeuvre from the British military.

Iran International has put a request for comment to the Royal Navy.