COVID Restrictions Prevent South Korean Stop-Off For HMS Queen Elizabeth

Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth will not dock at Busan, South Korea, as planned due to COVID-19 restrictions at the city's port.

The £3.3bn vessel is currently deployed to the Indo-Pacific, spearheading the UK-led Carrier Strike Group (CSG21).

However, the Royal Navy flagship will be visiting South Korean waters to take part in joint military exercises with the Republic of Korea Navy. 

Watch: Recent timelapse shows HMS Queen Elizabeth receiving live munitions replenishment at sea.

On Wednesday, HMS Queen Elizabeth performed a ceremonial 'cheer ship' to mark the steam past of Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force ships JS Ise and JS Asahi following Exercise Noble Union.

The Carrier Strike Group took part in the exercise, which saw Japan, the US and CSG21 integrated and operating together.

Last week, the Carrier Strike Group carried out a first-time replenishment at sea (RAS) conducted by the US Navy's USS America and HMS Defender.

The UK-led Strike Group is on a 28-week deployment, covering 26,000 nautical miles including passages through the Mediterranean to the Red Sea, from the Gulf of Aden to the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean to the Philippine Sea.

Cover image: File image of HMS Queen Elizabeth (Picture: MOD).