US warship makes port visit in Batumi, Georgia

The USS Laboon (DDG-58), an Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer from the United States' (US) Navy 6th Fleet, has made a port visit in Batumi, Georgia.

The visit was to reaffirm the US’ commitment to strengthening ties with NATO allies and partners like Georgia, while working toward mutual goals of promoting security and stability in the Black Sea region, the US Embassy in Tbilisi said.

Georgia’s Defence Minister Tinatin Khidasheli, Parliament Speaker David Usupashvili, Chief of General Staff of the Georgian Armed Forces (GAF) Major General Vakhtang Kapanadze, US Ambassador to Georgia Richard Norland and other officials attended the welcoming ceremony in western Georgia’s coastal city today.

The USS Laboon made a port visit in Batumi.This visit reaffirms US commitments to strengthen ties w/ #NATO allies pic.twitter.com/Cn8JF5TC3x

— Tina Khidasheli (@tinakhidasheli) June 28, 2015

Captain of the USS Laboon Christopher Mccallum hosted the official guests and familiarised them with the tactical and technical characteristics of the vessel.

While in Georgia, the USS Laboon will conduct routine combined training with the Georgian Coast Guard and provide ship and press tours.

"The Laboon's port visit will further build on previous US Navy visits to Georgia that enhance the professional partnerships and personal relationships between the United States and its allied and partner nations,” the US Embassy said in a statement.

The USS Laboon, with its home port in Norfolk Virginia, is deployed in a multi-mission role in the US 6th Fleet area of operations to contribute to regional maritime security, conduct bilateral and multilateral training missions, and to support NATO operations and deployments throughout the Black Sea region.

The warship will remain in Batumi Port until tomorrow.