Royal Navy flagship HMS Queen Elizabeth is visiting Hamburg to underscore the importance of a new major defence agreement between the UK and Germany.
The carrier navigated the river Elbe to the port city after a series of military drills with German helicopters at the end of last week, which saw the aircraft operate from the ship’s vast flight deck in the North Sea.
HMS Queen Elizabeth will be in Hamburg for five days, becoming the floating forum for a series of conferences and visits by ministers, diplomats and defence experts as the two close NATO allies forge deeper bonds for the benefit of wider European security in the face of Russia’s continued war of aggression again Ukraine.
The ship will play host to some 300 guests as the nations reinforce the recent Trinity House Agreement, which was signed last month and begins a new era of cooperation that aims to boost security, investment and jobs.
The carrier’s visit will demonstrate the UK’s commitment to the new treaty, but also show that the two countries are beginning work on the defence projects planned under the agreement – including developing new maritime drone technology to counter warships and submarines.
The ship will be berthed at the Steinwerder cruise terminal on the south bank of the Elbe, becoming the first RN carrier to visit Hamburg in 13 years.
HMS Queen Elizabeth’s Commanding Officer, Captain Will King, said: “Everyone on board HMS Queen Elizabeth is very much looking forward to our visit to Hamburg.
“Although many of our more senior sailors have visited previously and received a warm welcome, this will be the first time a Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carrier has berthed there.
“As you would expect during a visit to one of our closest NATO allies there is a busy programme of defence engagement, but everyone on the ship will get a chance to explore the city whose proud maritime heritage is very similar to our home in Portsmouth.
“We have a number of sporting fixtures planned and I have no doubt the stay will be a really memorable one.”
Up for discussion will be procurement of military equipment, while there will be an International Institute of Strategic Studies (IISS) Think Tank, with State Secretary at the Federal Ministry of Defence, Benedikt Zimmer, and Minister of Defence Procurement & Industry, Maria Eagle, in attendance.
The Military Equipment Capability Cooperation (MECC) Meeting will also bring ministers and guests together to discuss cooperation on procurement strategy and use of military equipment.
Royal Navy Fleet Commander, Vice Admiral Andrew Burns, will be in attendance to join in the discussions.
German Navy and Army helicopters, the NH90 and Navy Lynx Mk88, conducted deck landing training with HMS Queen Elizabeth last week ahead of their arrival in Hamburg.