The Royal Navy’s flagship aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales made its first ever port call to Tokyo on 28 August, berthing at the Tokyo International Cruise Terminal after joint exercises with the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force. Japanese officials hailed the visit as evidence of “unprecedented” security ties with the United Kingdom. At 280 metres long and able to embark up to 36 F-35B stealth fighters, the Prince of Wales leads a UK Carrier Strike Group that has been operating in the Western Pacific. The ship underwent maintenance at the U.S. Navy base in Yokosuka before arriving in the capital and will open to the public on 31 August. Japanese Defense Minister Nakatani and visiting UK Defence Secretary John Healey met in Tokyo the same day, declaring bilateral defence cooperation had reached “a new level.” The ministers agreed to expand joint drills, dispatch Japan Air Self-Defense Force F-15 fighters to Britain for the first time and intensify support for Ukraine. The visit marks only the second time a British carrier has called in Japan, following HMS Queen Elizabeth’s 2021 stop, and underscores London’s aim to maintain a regular Indo-Pacific presence as China ramps up maritime activity in the region.