When future students of naval history look at 2021, they could be forgiven for mistaking it for the 19th century: a growing number of European powers are sending warships to Asia in a trend that invokes memories of gunboat diplomacy.
The UK’s new aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth will shortly set off on its maiden deployment to Asia-Pacific leading the Royal Navy’s largest manoeuvre since the Falkland war.
The French navy is currently leading drills with US, Japanese and Australian forces around the US Pacific territory of Guam. France’s aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle is also on its way to Asia-Pacific. Earlier this year, France already sent a submarine into the Pacific and led an exercise in the Bay of Bengal with the US, Japan, Australia and India.