1st Sea Lord praises Carrier Strike in recent speech

The head of the Royal Navy, Admiral Sir Mark Stanhope, was in the Welsh capital on January 28 to address members of Cardiff Business Club.

In an annual event organised at St David’s Hotel by the club, which brings together some of Wales’ foremost industrialists and business people, the First Sea Lord made a speech entitled ‘Delivering security in an age of austerity’, focusing on what the future security environment may look like, as well as describing the advantage of collaboration between allies to more effectively prevent crises from emerging, the ultimate prize in defence.

Greeted by Gerald Davies CBE, Cardiff Business Club’s chairman, Admiral Stanhope was then formally introduced by event host Lieutenant Colonel Guy Clarke, chairman of the Reserve Forces’ and Cadets’ Association for Wales. The Band of Her Majesty’s Royal Marines from Commando Training Centre, Lympstone performed a Beat Retreat in advance of the keynote speech and Sea Cadets from in and around the Cardiff area also played a part in the evening’s proceedings.

In the course of the speech Sir Mark uses the investment Carrier Strike as a good example of how the Navy is matching capability and value for money to the government's National Security Strategy.

The text of his speech is downloadbale below.