HMS Queen Elizabeth's First Deployment To Be Alongside Dutch Warship
The Netherlands will become one of the first nations to work with the carrier when she becomes operational in 2021.
A Merlin takes off from HMS Queen Elizabeth (Picture: Royal Navy).
The Brtitish aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth, which has been conducting flight trials off the east coast of the United States, is expected to be joined by a Dutch warship during her first deployment in 2021.
The Dutch ship will form part of the Carrier Strike Group which is set to be a key part of NATO's defence capability in the future, according to the Royal Navy.
The Netherlands will also sign up to the UK’s Call for Action on Modern Slavery.
Tomorrow, the Prime Minister Theresa May will thank the Dutch for their help in exposing cyber attacks carried out by Russia's GRU when the King and Queen of the Netherlands visit Downing Street.
The Prime Minister will also acknowledge the defence and security cooperation between the two countries, as negotations with the EU over a deep security post-Brexit continue.
Mrs May said: "The Netherlands is one of our closest allies, as our recent work tackling cyber security threats demonstrates.
“As we leave the European Union, we will continue to stand side by side to defend against threats to the global rules based system.
"I’m pleased to announce that the Dutch navy will be among the first nations to join the Carrier Strike Group as a sign of our ongoing cooperation.”
Ahead of their lunch at Downing Street, the Dutch King and Queen will watch a display of Dutch-UK naval capability from Royal Marines of both countries on HMS Belfast and HNLMS Zeeland.
HMS Queen Elizabeth is the Royal Navy's largest ever ship and cost £3 billion.
It weighs 65,000 tonnes and its flight deck is 280 metres long and 70 metres wide - enough space for three football pitches.