Georgian Defence Minister views US guided-missile destroyer docked in Batumi
Georgia officials stated that the ship entered the Black Sea for stability. Photo: Defence Ministry press office.
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Georgian Defence Minister Levan Izoria has viewed the US guided-missile destroyer USS Ross in Batumi earlier today and stated that Georgia-US relations have never been so close.
By entering, the ship strengthens stability both in Georgia and in the Black Sea region,” Izoria stated.
Georgian Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze reiterated that US-Georgia relations are at an all time high and the call of the ship confirms US support for Georgia.
Georgian Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze welcomes the ship crew. Photo: Prime Minister's press office.
We highly appreciate the support,” Bakhtadze said, while meeting with the ship crew yesterday.
USS Ross, which aims “to strengthen interoperability with NATO allies and partners” is visiting Georgia’s Black Sea port of Batumi on April 21-25.
The ship entered Georgia on April 21. Photo: Defence Ministry press office.
Russian news agency TASS reported earlier that Russian Navy Vasily Bykov-class patrol vessel and Russian Navy reconnaissance ship Ivan Khurs were monitoring USS Ross' movements in the Black Sea.
Citing the Russian National Defence Management Centre, TASS said "upon entering the Black Sea, the US navy ship was placed under constant monitoring involving the fleet’s coastal surveillance facilities."
Georgia’s Black Sea port of Poti is hosting a group of military vessels of NATO member states, as the Standing NATO Maritime Group 2 is set to hold sea manoeuvres with their Georgian counterparts this week.
HNLMS Evertsen of the Royal Netherlands Navy, TCG Yildirim of the Turkish Navy, BGS Drazki of the Bulgarian Navy and ROS Regele Ferdinand of the Romanian Naval Forces are part of the group led by Commodore Boudewijn Boots.
Two Russian military ships have been tracking the United States Ship Ross that entered the Black Sea over a week ago. The USS Ross, which aims “to strengthen interoperability with NATO allies and partners”, is visiting Georgia’s Black Sea port of Batumi from April 21-25.
The American vessel USS Oak Hill has docked in Georgia’s eastern coastal city of Batumi for the first time. According to the United States Embassy to Georgia, Oak Hill entered the Black Sea to demonstrate US commitment to the collective defense of its NATO allies and partners.
The Royal Navy survey ship HMS Echo arrived in Georgia’s Black Sea port of Batumi earlier today. The British Embassy to Georgia said the ship’s visit further demonstrates “the ongoing strong and vibrant cooperation” between the United Kingdom and Georgia.
Georgia's Ministry of Defence and armed forces are hosting their partners, including NATO member states, in LOGDEV 19, a multinational exercise aimed at developing logistical capability of their armed forces. Held in the country for the first time, the drills - formally known as Logistics Development - involve 130 service members from a dozen countries and are led by the Joint Force Development Directorate of the United States Joint Chiefs of Staff.
US Navy P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft made a historic first visit for that type of aircraft to Georgia, the US Embassy to Georgia posted on its official Facebook page today. The US Embassy reported the aircraft conducted training with the Georgian Coast Guard in the eastern Black Sea.
The US ship Porter (DDG 78) has arrived in Georgia’s coastal city of Batumi for a port visit earlier today, the US Embassy to Georgia reports.
French National Navy warship Commandant Ducuing will enter a Georgian port ahead of its participation in the annual Romanian-led naval exercise Sea Shield in the Black Sea.
US military vessel Donald Cook has docked in the Georgian coastal city of Batumi in western Georgia today to participate in joint drills with the staff of the Georgian Coastal Guard Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
The Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, commissioned in 1998 and "homeported" in Rota, Spain, entered the Black Sea coastal city port as a show of support for regional security and stability.