Leaders from the U.S. and U.K. naval services signed a new version of a strategic charter between the two countries this week, for the first time including the U.S. Marine Corps.
The strategic charter is called Delivering Combined Seapower, DCS, and acts as a “bilateral tri-service strategic approach plan that supports cooperation, collaboration and integration” among the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps and U.K. Royal Navy.
The DCS was first signed in 2014 as a way to create and sustain more interoperability between the two countries’ naval forces.
The U.S. Navy said the updated version covers a vision to enable the “next level of interoperability the joint force requires” alongside acceleration of U.S.-U.K. interchangeability.
Vice Chief of Naval Operations (VCNO) and acting CNO Adm. Lisa Franchetti and Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. Eric Smith embarked on the HMS Prince of Wales (PWLS) Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carrier to sign the document with Royal Navy First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff Adm. Sir Ben Key.
“‘Delivering’ is the key word here. The U.S. and U.K. are providing real, operationally relevant capabilities that are making a difference on the oceans every single day. This document reflects the significant progress we’ve made since the original charter nine years ago and clearly articulates how we will advance and expand our interchangeability and deliver combined seapower going forward,” Franchetti said at the signing.
Key added the charter is a “testament to the enduring strength of the relationship between our navies and marines. By aligning our strategies and capabilities, we strengthen our ability to deter threats, respond to crises, and promote stability across the world’s oceans.”
Notably, this was the first time the U.S. Marine Corps was formally incorporated into the charter. Previously, the service participated in DCS Strategic Dialogues without being a formal signatory.
“We need to continue moving toward full interoperability, which includes maximizing our information sharing, training on each other’s platforms, and finding novel ways to integrate at the staff and warfighter level. This charter is a real step forward toward that goal,” Smith said.
The Navy said besides signing the final charter, the three leaders saw a demonstration of F-35B operations aboard the carrier, discussed maritime strategies, warfighting concepts and future force design.
The statements favoring interchangeability follow on from 2020 statements by the service chiefs of both countries to move past only achieving interoperability.
At the time, the 2020 “Statement of Intent Regarding Future Integrated Warfighting” (SOI FIW) said the changing geopolitical climate and accelerating technology called for a revised vision that covers interchangeability “from the earliest phases of equipment and doctrine development” (Defense Daily, Oct. 22, 2020).
That document said existing and future bilateral activities should be more outcome-focused and deliver at a faster rate, with timelines that point towards mutually determined near-, mid- and long-term activities. The SOI FIW is to remain in effect for a decade unless otherwise altered or terminated.