SSU Forum/Roundtable Discussion “The UK-led Carrier Strike Group 25 (CSG25) deployment to the Indo-Pacific”: what it means for relations with Japan, Europe, and partners beyond the US.”

  • Date：
    Tue, Aug 26, 2025
  • Time：
    10:30-12:00
  • Location：
    Lecture Hall B, 4F International Academic Research Building, UTokyo Hongo campus
    MAP
  • Host：

    Security Studies Unit (SSU), Institute for Future Initiatives (IFI), UTokyo

  • Co-Host：

    Graduate School of Public Policy (GraSPP), UTokyo

  • Cooperation：

    the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), UK

  • Language：

    English

  • Registration：

    Please register below.

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Abstract

Few countries in the world possess the resources to lead a multi-national naval task force such as the UK-led Carrier Strike Group 25 (CSG25) centred around the aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales. Known as Operation Highmast, this deployment is not only a highlight of the year for Britain’s defence engagement with Japan and partners in the Indo-Pacific. Crucially, it also demonstrates the Royal Navy’s interoperability with allied European navies. A Norwegian frigate and supply ship have deployed as part of CSG25 all the way to Japan. This roundtable discussion will reflect on what CSG25 means for UK policy in the Indo-Pacific, for Japan’s defence cooperation with the UK and other partners beyond the US, and for Europe’s allocation of defence resources at a moment of change in the transatlantic alliance.

Panelists

Speaker 1: Dr. Philip SHETLER-JONES (Senior Research Fellow in Indo-Pacific Security, RUSI)

Speaker 2: Dr. Keizo KITAGAWA (Captain, JMSDF(Ret);Professor, Faculty of Policy Management, Keio University; RUSI Associate Fellow; YCAPS Senior Research Fellow)

Speaker 3: Captain Colin WILLIAMS (Defence Attache, Head of Defence Section, British Embassy Tokyo)

Speaker 4: Colonel Maria Elisabeth FAGERHEIM (Defence Attache, Norwegian Embassy in Tokyo)

Moderator and Speaker 5: Dr. Yee Kuang HENG (Director of Security Studies Unit (SSU) and Professor, Graduate School of Public Policy (GraSPP)