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Written question asked by Ben Obese-Jecty (Conservative) on Friday, 10 October 2025, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 15 October 2025. It was answered by Al Carns (Labour) on Friday, 17 October 2025 on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.

Italy: Military Alliances

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 34 of the National Security Strategy 2025, CP 1338, published on 24 June 2025, what recent progress he has made on strengthening the interoperability of carrier strike groups with Italy.

Answer

Italy is an important partner of the United Kingdom, demonstrated in the context of Carrier Strike, through our memberships of NATO, the F-35 Lightning II programme, and the European Carrier Group Interoperability Initiative (ECGII).

Interoperability has been strengthened during the ongoing deployment of the UK Carrier Strike Group (CSG) on Operation HIGHMAST, during which HMS PRINCE OF WALES worked alongside the Italian Navy’s ITS CAVOUR CSG in the Mediterranean Sea in May 2025. Combined training activity emphasised UK-Italian CSG interoperability and integration across all domains, including UK and Italian F-35B jets flying sorties by day and night, and the opportunity for Italian Navy F-35Bs to land on, and launch from, HMS PRINCE OF WALES. Further combined training opportunities to strengthen UK-Italian CSG interoperability are planned during the UK CSG’s return passage later this year.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
79224
Session
2024-26
Related items
Subjects
Navy Italy Military alliances
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk