In recent days, ITS Andrea Doria ended her participation in NATO Steadfast Defender 2021 exercise, which took place off the coast of Portugal. The destroyer subsequently re-entered the Mediterranean Sea through the Strait of Gibraltar, integrating into the UK Carrier Strike Group led by aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth, alongside warships and aircraft from the US and the Netherlands.
The Carrier Strike Group – sailed from Portsmouth and heading for the South China Sea – will operate within a wide and complex geographical area. ITS Andrea Doria has joined the UK-led Strike Group during the first phase of its deployment, which will take place in the Mediterranean Sea, providing effective air defence capabilities against unforeseen and multifaceted threats.
This activity provides an opportunity to strengthen multilateral relationships and test operational capabilities to face increasingly complex challenges.
The combined deployment of the Italian Navy and Royal Navy assets meets the requirements of interoperability and cooperation between two countries sharing a common necessary and vital interest in the sea. Moreover, mutual support and sharing experiences and traditions promote professional growth among participating Navies.
