His Royal Highness (HRH) the Prince of Wales joined thousands of international service personnel for the start of the UK-led military exercise Joint Warrior.
Joint Warrior is a multinational exercise linked to the NATO exercise program. It is hosted in the UK and is one of the largest tri-service and multinational exercises of its kind in Europe, incorporating all three of the UK Armed Forces – the Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force.
HRH, who is Commodore-in-Chief of the Canadian Royal Navy’s Canadian Fleet Atlantic, joined crews of two participating Canadian vessels to mark the start of Joint Warrior on October 3. He met with captains and crews of Her Majesty’s Canadian Ships Montreal and Windsor, which were berthed at HM Naval Base Clyde ahead of the exercise.
HRH was briefed by Flag Officer Scotland and Northern Ireland (FOSNI) on the importance of Joint Warrior to both the collective defence of NATO allies, and the support of Faslane to NATO and allied forces; Rear Admiral John Weale, FOSNI, emphasised the important role Joint Warrior plays in building even closer links between the UK and NATO allies, including the Canadians. The 13-day exercise began on October 3 and involves 30 warships and submarines, 60 aircraft, and around 6,300 personnel from the 12 nations taking part.
Ships, submarines, aircraft and ground troops from the UK, US and other NATO allies will take part, improving their ability to work together and to fight at sea, in the air and on land. Exercise activity will be focused off the West and East coasts of Scotland. Joint Warrior represents a valuable opportunity to demonstrate the capabilities of the UK and its allies to conduct joint operations involving many different forces against a range of current and future threats.
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Image: Royal Navy