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

Key Chapter Title List

1. Pacific Steller 2025 Exercise: Basic Situation and Participating Forces
2. Configuration of the US Navy's USS Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group Participation
3. French Charles de Gaulle Carrier Strike Group's "Clemenceau 25" Indo-Pacific Deployment
4. Participating Ships and Equipment of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force
5. Joint Exercise Core Components: Anti-Submarine Warfare and Air Defense Operations
6. Cross-Deck Operations and At-Sea Replenishment Coordination
7. Phased Task Adjustments of Participating Forces and Okinawa-Related Deployments
8. US-France Navy High-Level Meetings and Professional Exchanges
9. Follow-up "Varuna 2025" Indo-Pacific Exercise Plan for the French Carrier Strike Group
10. US-Japan Okinawa Bilateral Amphibious and Mine Countermeasures Exercise Arrangements
11. Deployment Dynamics of the US Navy's USS 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 U.S., 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 for the three countries 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 goals of the participating parties.

The report first details the core force configurations of the participating parties: the U.S. Navy's USS Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group (including the aircraft carrier, cruiser, destroyers, and logistics support ships), the French Navy's "Clemenceau 25" Indo-Pacific deployment Carrier Strike Group (including nuclear-powered attack submarines, frigates, a replenishment ship, and maritime patrol aircraft), as well as the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force's JS Kaga helicopter destroyer, JS Akizuki destroyer, and other vessels and patrol aircraft. The coordinated deployment of these forces constitutes the basic 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 at-sea replenishment. Notably, cross-deck operations achieved the landing and deployment of U.S. F/A-18F Super Hornet fighters and CMV-22B Osprey tiltrotor aircraft on the French carrier, and French Rafale fighters on the U.S. carrier. At-sea replenishment involved the French replenishment ship FS Jacques Chevallier providing coordinated support to U.S. and Japanese vessels, significantly enhancing the multinational fleet's interoperability and sustained deployment capability. It is noteworthy that some participating forces detached from the exercise formation on February 11 to conduct monitoring operations in support of UN sanctions against North Korea off the coast of Okinawa's White Beach, reflecting the diverse and extended nature of the exercise tasks.

The report also documents high-level interactions between the U.S. and French navies. Admiral Steve Koehler, Commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, met with Admiral Nicolas Vaujour, Chief of Staff of the French Navy, aboard the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier, emphasizing the core value of professional military cooperation in complex missions. Furthermore, the report clarifies the follow-up military action plans of the parties: the French Carrier Strike Group will conduct the "Varuna 2025" joint exercise with India during its return journey and plans to visit the Philippines in late February; the U.S. and Japan will conduct a bilateral amphibious and mine countermeasures exercise around Okinawa from February 26 to March 2; and the U.S. Navy's USS America Amphibious Ready Group will participate in the U.S.-Thailand "Cobra Gold 2025" multinational exercise starting February 25.

These closely linked military actions collectively constitute a system of regularized force demonstration and coordinated training by 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 follow-up 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.

Key Chapter Title List

1. Pacific Steller 2025 Exercise: Basic Situation and Participating Forces
2. Configuration of the US Navy's USS Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group Participation
3. French Charles de Gaulle Carrier Strike Group's "Clemenceau 25" Indo-Pacific Deployment
4. Participating Ships and Equipment of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force
5. Joint Exercise Core Components: Anti-Submarine Warfare and Air Defense Operations
6. Cross-Deck Operations and At-Sea Replenishment Coordination
7. Phased Task Adjustments of Participating Forces and Okinawa-Related Deployments
8. US-France Navy High-Level Meetings and Professional Exchanges
9. Follow-up "Varuna 2025" Indo-Pacific Exercise Plan for the French Carrier Strike Group
10. US-Japan Okinawa Bilateral Amphibious and Mine Countermeasures Exercise Arrangements
11. Deployment Dynamics of the US Navy's USS 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 U.S., 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 for the three countries 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 goals of the participating parties.

The report first details the core force configurations of the participating parties: the U.S. Navy's USS Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group (including the aircraft carrier, cruiser, destroyers, and logistics support ships), the French Navy's "Clemenceau 25" Indo-Pacific deployment Carrier Strike Group (including nuclear-powered attack submarines, frigates, a replenishment ship, and maritime patrol aircraft), as well as the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force's JS Kaga helicopter destroyer, JS Akizuki destroyer, and other vessels and patrol aircraft. The coordinated deployment of these forces constitutes the basic 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 at-sea replenishment. Notably, cross-deck operations achieved the landing and deployment of U.S. F/A-18F Super Hornet fighters and CMV-22B Osprey tiltrotor aircraft on the French carrier, and French Rafale fighters on the U.S. carrier. At-sea replenishment involved the French replenishment ship FS Jacques Chevallier providing coordinated support to U.S. and Japanese vessels, significantly enhancing the multinational fleet's interoperability and sustained deployment capability. It is noteworthy that some participating forces detached from the exercise formation on February 11 to conduct monitoring operations in support of UN sanctions against North Korea off the coast of Okinawa's White Beach, reflecting the diverse and extended nature of the exercise tasks.

The report also documents high-level interactions between the U.S. and French navies. Admiral Steve Koehler, Commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, met with Admiral Nicolas Vaujour, Chief of Staff of the French Navy, aboard the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier, emphasizing the core value of professional military cooperation in complex missions. Furthermore, the report clarifies the follow-up military action plans of the parties: the French Carrier Strike Group will conduct the "Varuna 2025" joint exercise with India during its return journey and plans to visit the Philippines in late February; the U.S. and Japan will conduct a bilateral amphibious and mine countermeasures exercise around Okinawa from February 26 to March 2; and the U.S. Navy's USS America Amphibious Ready Group will participate in the U.S.-Thailand "Cobra Gold 2025" multinational exercise starting February 25.

These closely linked military actions collectively constitute a system of regularized force demonstration and coordinated training by 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 follow-up 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.