A British aircraft carrier has been placed under the command of NATO, which is happening for the first time in Europe, and two British ministers will visit Italy to mark the event, PA Media/DPA reported, BTA reported.
The Royal Navy aircraft carrier “Prince of Wales“, one of two in service, and its modern F-35 fighter jets, is currently participating in a NATO exercise in the Mediterranean, British Defense Secretary John Healy announced.
Healy and Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper will arrive in Naples today, where they will welcome their Italian colleagues on board the ship.
This means that for the first time NATO will have a carrier strike group under its command - a group of ships including the “Prince of Wales“, support ships and a modern flotilla of F-35 fighters.
The F-35 fighters are already taking part in a joint exercise with Italian fighters called “Falcon Strike“.
Healey stressed that placing the strike group under NATO command is an example of the UK's “NATO First“ plan, set out in the Strategic Defence Review earlier this year.
This plan envisages the UK preparing for war and focusing its preparations in Europe, as well as strengthening the joint forces of the western alliance with weapons.
Healey and Cooper will talk to Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani aboard the “Prince of Wales“.
Efforts to strengthen Europe against Russia and counter hybrid threats to the continent's security will be a major topic of discussion.