After a long silence, Britain has finally bared its fangs by sending HMS Prince of Wales – a £3 billion (about RM17 billion) warship to circumnavigate 40 countries from the Mediterranean to Australia.
The global mission, which will take eight months, is not just a routine voyage but comes with a clear and strong message to rivals such as Russia and China: “Don’t challenge us!”
The 65,000-ton ship, equipped with F-35 fighter jets, tactical drones and anti-submarine helicopters, left Portsmouth to cheers from the public, joining the Norwegian and Canadian fleets in a mission known as Operation Highmast.
The mission is a carefully planned show of force to strengthen the UK’s influence in the Indo-Pacific.
But behind all this military might and symbolism, the question arises: Is this just symbolic?
Or is it actually a strategic move towards a larger global confrontation?
