U.S., France, and Japan Conduct Joint Naval Drills in Pacific

The Pacific Steller 2025 exercise showcases trilateral naval cooperation as China continues its naval expansion.

The Pacific Steller 2025 naval exercise, involving aircraft carriers from the U.S., France, and Japan, is taking place in the Philippine Sea and will conclude on February 18.
This marks the first deployment of a French aircraft carrier, the FS Charles de Gaulle, to the Pacific Ocean since 1968, reflecting France's growing engagement in the Indo-Pacific region.
The U.S. Navy's USS Carl Vinson and Japan's JS Kaga are participating alongside the French carrier, with the Kaga undergoing conversion into an aircraft carrier capable of operating F-35B fighter jets.
The drill aims to enhance coordination between the three navies, promote regional stability, and counterbalance China's expanding naval capabilities.
China, which has the world's largest navy by hull count, did not deploy its carriers during this period, though seven Chinese warships, including one with a suspected laser weapon, were spotted in the Philippine Sea earlier this week.