France, Japan, and U.S. Join Forces for Major Naval Operations in Philippine Sea

The Pacific Steller 2025 exercise marks a significant moment in maritime collaboration, bringing together French, Japanese, and U.S. naval forces to enhance multi-domain operations. This exercise highlights a shared commitment to regional stability and showcases the U.S. Navy’s enduring power projection.

Rear Adm. Michael Wosje, commander of Carrier Strike Group 1, emphasized the strategic value of this exercise. “Pacific Steller 2025 allows seamless integration with our French and Japanese allies,” Wosje stated. The coordinated operations between the USS Carl Vinson, FS Charles De Gaulle, and JS Kaga underscore the strength of these alliances, aiming to maintain an open Indo-Pacific, free from coercion.

Rear Adm. Jacques Mallard of the French CSG highlighted the opportunity for the French navy to cooperate extensively with partners in the Indo-Pacific. The deployment of Charles De Gaulle, after a long absence from the region, aims to raise interoperability levels among the participating navies, aligning with the vision for a free and inclusive Indo-Pacific space.

Past multi-lateral exercises (MLDEs) have included U.S.-Italian naval collaborations as recent as August 2024, reinforcing global maritime partnerships. Capt. Matthew Thomas of USS Carl Vinson indicated that Pacific Steller 2025 exemplifies ongoing integration to bolster regional maritime security.

Participating vessels include the Nimitz-class USS Carl Vinson, FS Charles De Gaulle, and Japan’s JS Kaga. Also involved are embarked staffs of CSG-1, Destroyer Squadron one, and Carrier Air Wing 2, featuring advanced aircraft like the F-35C Lightning II and F/A-18E/F Super Hornets.

The French Carrier Strike Group, currently on Mission CLEMENCEAU 25, navigates the Indo-Pacific with allies, fostering a cooperative maritime environment under international law. The Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group operates within the U.S. 7th Fleet area, underscoring a longstanding presence in securing a free Indo-Pacific region.