IMDEX Asia: Royal Navy Still Sees Responsibilities in Asia
Read More: http://www.shephardmedia.com/news/imps- ... ties-asia/The Royal Navy wants to remain an active force in Asia even though it now lacks ‘striking activity’ in the region, a senior officer from the service has said.
RAdm Tony Radakin, Commander UK Maritime Forces, said at IMDEX Asia that the UK still has responsibilities in Asia such as the Five Powers Defence Agreement (FPDA).
‘[The FPDA] is probably the biggest manifestation of; we are navy that still wants to operate here, we’re a UK that has regional responsibilities and we are willing to play to those,’ he told Shephard Media.
Defence cuts in the UK have had a profound effect on the UK’s senior service, including a significant reduction in ship numbers and, as a result, its ability to project into regions such as Asia.
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Instead of focusing on the negative Radakin said there was ‘fantastic opportunity’ with the two new Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers, the Astute-class submarines, the nuclear deterrent successor programme, the Type 26 Global Combat Ship and the MARS tankers currently being built in South Korea.
The challenge for admirals and flag officers is how you use this maritime power to good effect. ‘Focus on what you’ve got and what you can deliver with that,’ he concluded.