UK-Germany military ties deepened as aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth visits Hamburg.

According to information published by the UK MoD on November 18, 2024, the Royal Navy’s flagship, HMS Queen Elizabeth, has arrived in Hamburg, Germany. The visit follows a series of military exercises with German helicopters in the North Sea, solidifying operational interoperability between the two NATO allies. HMS Queen Elizabeth navigated the river Elbe to the port city, where it will dock at the Steinwerder cruise terminal for five days. This marks the first visit by a Royal Navy aircraft carrier to Hamburg in 13 years and the inaugural visit of the Queen Elizabeth-class carrier to the city.
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Royal Navy's Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth. (Picture source: UK MoD)

The carrier will serve as a venue for high-level defence engagements, including conferences, ministerial visits, and strategic discussions. Central to these discussions is the recent Trinity House Agreement, signed last month, which signifies a significant step forward in UK-Germany defence collaboration.

The treaty outlines shared commitments to enhancing European security amidst the ongoing threat posed by Russia’s war in Ukraine. Key projects under the agreement include the development of advanced maritime drone technologies to counteract surface and underwater threats, an area of critical importance in modern naval warfare.

The visit highlights the deepening ties between the UK and Germany, both pivotal NATO members. Discussions during the visit will include procurement strategies for military equipment and enhanced collaboration through the Military Equipment Capability Cooperation (MECC) initiative.

Before docking, HMS Queen Elizabeth collaborated with the German Navy and Army helicopters, including NH90 and Navy Lynx Mk88, conducting deck landing operations on the carrier’s vast flight deck.

Comments

During a hypothetical conflict with Russia, the carrier's primary purpose would be to project power, provide air superiority, and secure critical sea lanes vital for sustaining NATO's logistical and operational frameworks. Its F-35B Lightning II aircraft could conduct precision strikes on Russian military targets, perform reconnaissance, and provide close air support to NATO ground forces in Germany and Eastern Europe.

Positioning the carrier in the North Sea would offer a safer operational environment, allowing it to launch sustained air operations while remaining outside the immediate range of Russia's A2/AD capabilities, such as Kaliningrad's S-400 systems and Iskander missiles. However, deploying it into the Baltic Sea would provide more direct support to Germany and frontline NATO states, though at the cost of heightened exposure to Russian missile and naval threats.

As part of a carrier strike group, the HMS Queen Elizabeth would enhance NATO’s maritime dominance, leveraging its escorts—destroyers, frigates, and submarines—to counter Russian naval movements and secure strategic maritime corridors.

However, this deployment would not be without risks. The carrier’s proximity to Russian territory could make it a high-value target for missile strikes and hybrid warfare tactics, such as cyberattacks aimed at disrupting its operations. Extended missions would also strain logistical networks, requiring access to well-secured ports in northern Germany or allied states for resupply and maintenance.