We support our Publishers and Content Creators. You can view this story on their website by CLICKING HERE.

Key Points: France’s flagship aircraft carrier, Charles de Gaulle, will embark on its first Indo-Pacific deployment. The nuclear-powered carrier will participate in joint exercises with regional navies, including those of the U.S., Japan, and India, while making multiple port calls.

-France, the only EU nation with a permanent military presence in the Indo-Pacific, aims to bolster regional security and interoperability with allies.

-The mission highlights France’s commitment to the region as the “world’s new center of gravity.”

-Despite past operational challenges, Charles de Gaulle remains a highly capable carrier with a formidable air wing.

Charles de Gaulle Carrier to Boost French Presence in Indo-Pacific

Earlier this year, the Italian Navy’s flagship aircraft carrier, ITS Cavour, departed from its home port of Taranto in southern Italy and took part in its first Indo-Pacific deployment. In August, the flattop – which was commissioned in 2008 – made a scheduled visit to Japan, the first-ever port call by an Italian flagship. It was a notable event, highlighting the NATO nation’s commitment to security in the region.

Now, an even more powerful carrier is set to pay a visit to the island nation in the coming months.

On Tuesday, it was announced that the French Navy’s nuclear-powered carrier and flagship Charles de Gaulle, and her strike group will travel to the Indo-Pacific. It will be the first time the French Navy will deploy an aircraft carrier to the Pacific Ocean in 57 years, Naval News reported.

In 1968, the “conventionally powered aircraft carrier Clemenceau was temporarily deployed to the South Pacific to take part in nuclear tests,” Naval News went on to explain.

Apart from the United States Navy’s Nimitz and Gerald R. Ford class warships, Charles de Gaulle is the only nuclear-powered carrier in service today.

“France is the only European Union member to maintain a permanent military presence in both the Indian and Pacific oceans,” Naval News added. Paris maintains military bases in New Caledonia and French Polynesia. Around 2,300 troops are stationed between the two locations.

“The Indo-Pacific is the world’s new center of gravity,” Rear Adm. Guillaume Pinget told The Japan Times during a visit to Tokyo. “Strengthening maritime security and developing interoperability with allies and partners in the Indian and Pacific Oceans are among the key goals of this deployment.”

French Aircraft Carrier Charles de Gaulle.

Visit to Okinawa Pending

Some vessels from the CSG will even make a port call to Okinawa either in late February or March, as part of the planned Clemaneau 25 mission.

However, it is currently unlikely that the carrier will be among the ships that will pay a visit to the famously pacifistic island.

According to the Japanese news outlet, “a port visit by the nuclear-powered carrier was an option, the parties involved did not make this choice ultimately for operational reasons. Nevertheless, the planned port visits by several of the other vessels will mark another important step in the two countries’ rapidly expanding defense cooperation.”

A Busy Deployment

Much like the recent Italian Navy’s Indo-Pacific deployment, Clemaneau 25 will see the French flagship make numerous port calls while it takes part in joint operations with regional partners. It will work alongside the navies of the United States, Australia, the UK, Canada, India, Malaysia, and Singapore.

According to The Japan Times, “At different stages of the mission, the carrier group will be reinforced by U.S., Greek, Portuguese, Italian, Moroccan, British, Australian, Canadian and Japanese combat vessels.”

 Charles de Gaulle will take part in the annual Varuna exercises with the Indian Navy – and that could include joint carrier operations with at least one of New Delhi’s two flattops.

It is also possible the French flagship will cross paths at some point with the Royal Navy’s current flagship HMS Prince of Wales, which is also set to take part in an Indo-Pacific deployment next year. Joint operations with at least one or two of the U.S. Navy’s multiple carriers are almost certain.

Meet the Charles de Gaulle

Named for World War II hero and later French President Charles de Gaulle, the French Navy’s (Maritime Nationale’s) only currently active aircraft carrier has been in service since May 2001, and is currently scheduled to remain operational until at least 2040.

Despite being the only non-U.S. nuclear-powered carrier, the warship has had more than its fair share of problems during its time in service—much like its political namesake—including a troubled fifteen-year construction period, which began in 1989.

It was meant to be the first of two carriers – to replace the aging Foch and Clemenceau – but the project was delayed by the economic recession of the early 1990s and work was suspended a total of four times over the next decade. When the carrier was finally commissioned in the spring of 2001, it was five years behind schedule.

Paris seems to have worked the problems out, and Charles de Gaulle is largely seen as a highly capable warship, one that can carry a reasonably sizeable airwing of 26 fighters including 18 Rafales and 8 Super Étendards.

Author Experience and Expertise: Peter Suciu

Peter Suciu is a Senior Editor focusing on defense issues for 19FortyFive. He has contributed to more than four dozen magazines, newspapers, and websites with over 3,500 published pieces over a twenty-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a Contributing Writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. You can follow him on X: @PeterSuciu – and on Bluesky: @petersuciu.bsky.social.