The Italian Navy has carried out its first deployment to the Indo-Pacific region. The formidable flotilla will sail through the South China Sea to the Philippines after participating in war games with U.S. allies in Australia
The moves come amid rising tensions between China and some of its neighbours in the contested South China Sea region. About 40% of Europe’s foreign trade flows through the South China Sea, where the United States, Japan, Australia and other nations have conducted joint maritime exercises they say uphold freedom of navigation. China claims almost the entire strategic waterway.
The Italian aircraft carrier Cavour is in the northern Australian town of Darwin taking part in Exercise Pitch Black this week, where Italy is contributing nearly two dozen fighter jets to the 20-nation drills with host Australia. The United States, Britain, Japan, the Philippines and Papua New Guinea are also taking part. It is the first time an aircraft carrier has joined the exercises, Italian Navy Rear Admiral Giancarlo Ciappina said.
The Italian aircraft carrier Cavour is in the northern Australian town of Darwin taking part in Exercise Pitch Black this week, where Italy is contributing nearly two dozen fighter jets to the 20-nation drills with host Australia. The United States, Britain, Japan, the Philippines and Papua New Guinea are also taking part. It is the first time an aircraft carrier has joined the exercises, Italian Navy Rear Admiral Giancarlo Ciappina said.
After the current exercises end on Aug. 2, the 1,200-person strong Italian carrier strike group will travel to the U.S. Pacific territory of Guam and Japan, before transiting the South China Sea to the Philippines for the first time, Ciappina said.
The strike group did not plan to conduct any freedom of navigation operations. The Cavour will carry out humanitarian work in the Philippines, performing surgery on children in the ship’s hospital while at port in Manila, he said.
“An aircraft carrier – just being present somewhere, it has an effect, it can influence. It is a very powerful tool,” Ciappina said.
Manila and Beijing have traded barbs repeatedly over jurisdiction as the the Philippines challenges China’s permanent presence around strategic features inside Manila’s exclusive economic zone. Ciappina said the Italian Navy’s first Indo-Pacific deployment improved its training and provided a better understanding of the region.
Italy has coordinated with the French Navy and Britain’s Royal Navy, which will also send ships to the region later this year, to ensure that a significant NATO capacity remains in the region.
(With inputs from Reuters)
