The U.S., Japanese, and French navies completed the joint exercise "Pacific Star" in the Philippine Sea.

Key Chapter Title List

1. Basic Situation and Participating Forces of Pacific Steller 2025 Exercise
2. Participating Configuration of the US Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group
3. French Clemenceau 25 Indo-Pacific Deployment of the Charles de Gaulle Carrier Strike Group
4. Participating Ships and Equipment of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force
5. Core Joint Exercise Components: Anti-Submarine Warfare and Air Defense Operations
6. Cross-Deck Operations and Maritime Replenishment Coordination
7. Phased Task Adjustments of Participating Forces and Okinawa-Related Deployments
8. High-Level Meetings and Professional Exchanges Between US and French Navies
9. Subsequent Varuna 2025 Indo-Pacific Exercise Plans for the French Carrier Strike Group
10. Arrangements for US-Japan Okinawa Bilateral Amphibious and Mine Countermeasures Exercises
11. Deployment Dynamics of the US America Amphibious Ready Group
12. Linkage with the US-Thailand Cobra Gold 2025 Multinational Exercise

Document Introduction

This report is based on exclusive coverage from the U.S. Naval Institute News (USNI News), focusing on the Pacific Steller 2025 joint exercise conducted by the US, Japanese, and French navies in the Celebes Sea and the Philippine Sea in February 2025. It systematically presents the full picture and strategic context of this important multilateral military coordination action in the Indo-Pacific region. As a key initiative by the three nations to strengthen maritime security cooperation, the exercise took place during a period of profound adjustment in the Indo-Pacific security landscape. Its exercise components and force deployments directly reflect the strategic coordination intentions and military power projection objectives of the participating parties.

The report first details the core force configurations of all participating parties: the US Navy Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group (including the aircraft carrier, cruiser, destroyers, and logistics support vessels), the French Navy Clemenceau 25 Indo-Pacific deployment carrier strike group (including nuclear-powered attack submarines, frigates, a replenishment ship, and maritime patrol aircraft), and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force vessels such as the helicopter destroyer JS Kaga, destroyer JS Akizuki, along with patrol aircraft. The coordinated deployment of these forces constitutes the foundational framework of this multilateral exercise, demonstrating the integration capability of cross-regional maritime power.

The core exercise components cover four major modules: anti-submarine warfare, air defense operations, cross-deck operations, and maritime replenishment. Notably, cross-deck operations achieved the takeoff, landing, and deployment of US F/A-18F Super Hornet fighters and CMV-22B Osprey tiltrotor aircraft on the French aircraft carrier, and French Rafale fighters on the US aircraft carrier. Maritime replenishment involved the French replenishment ship FS Jacques Chevallier providing coordinated support to US and Japanese vessels, significantly enhancing the interoperability and sustained deployment capability of the multinational fleet. It is noteworthy that some participating forces detached from the exercise formation on February 11 to proceed to White Beach, Okinawa, to conduct monitoring operations in support of UN sanctions against North Korea, reflecting the diverse and extended nature of the exercise tasks.

The report also records high-level interactions between the US and French navies. Admiral Steve Koehler, Commander of the US Pacific Fleet, met with Admiral Nicolas Vaujour, Chief of Staff of the French Navy, aboard the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, emphasizing the core value of professional military cooperation in complex missions. Furthermore, the report outlines the subsequent military action plans of the parties involved: the French carrier strike group will conduct the joint exercise Varuna 2025 with India during its return journey and plans to visit the Philippines in late February; the US and Japan will conduct bilateral amphibious and mine countermeasures exercises around Okinawa from February 26 to March 2; and the US America Amphibious Ready Group will participate in the US-Thailand Cobra Gold 2025 multinational exercise commencing on February 25.

These closely linked military actions collectively constitute the normalized force demonstration and coordinated training system of the United States and its allies in the Indo-Pacific region. By providing a panoramic presentation of the exercise details, force composition, component implementation, and subsequent deployments, this report offers precise factual basis and professional analytical perspective for understanding contemporary multilateral military cooperation mechanisms, maritime power balance, and strategic deterrence posture in the Indo-Pacific region.