Queen Elizabeth's first deployment as visible deterrence

How can a surface capital ship provide deterrence in the modern era?

By deploying it visibly with a credible task group, a navy converts the ship's capability into presence and a political signal.

Once HMS Queen Elizabeth was operational, Britain formed a task group and sent it on a global deployment. The voyage made the carrier and its supporting formation visible internationally. Deterrence here comes from putting a surface capital ship into view as part of an operational group. A ship meant to influence other states must deploy where they can see that capability in use.