US ship visits Batumi, shows ‘continued cooperation’ between Georgia and America
USS Ross is an Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer of the United States Navy. Photo: USS Ross (DDG 71)/Facebook
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The United States Ship Ross entered Georgia’s Black Sea port of Batumi to mark “continued cooperation” between US and Georgia “by promoting regional peace and stability”.
This is the ship’s first visit to the country.
Its commander David Coles said “our allies in the Black Sea continue to play a key role in maintaining security in the European theatre”.
The crew and I look forward to enhancing our interoperability in a dynamic environment as well as experiencing the rich history and culture in this region”, he stated.
The USS Ross is an Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer of the United States Navy.
The ship is capable of conducting exercises and operations in areas such as anti-submarine warfare and ballistic missile defence.
While on patrol, the USS Ross will engage with NATO Allies and partners "to reaffirm the United States’ commitment to strengthening ties, and to promote peace and stability in the region”, the US Embassy to Georgia announced.
The embassy also said that the port visit also provides American sailors an opportunity to explore local historical sites and build lasting partnerships with their Georgian Coast Guard counterparts.
In addition to tours of the ship, sailors from the USS Ross will play a friendly soccer match with the Georgian Coast Guard, a basketball game with Maritime Academy students, and will meet with local youth at American Corner in Batumi.
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.
"Oak Hill entered the Black Sea to demonstrate U.S. commitment to the collective defense of our NATO allies and partners,” the US Embassy to Georgia has stated.
HMS Echo, a multi-role hydrographic survey ship commissioned by the Royal Navy, has entered Batumi Sea Port today.
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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.
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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.
French National Navy warship Commandant Birot has entered the port in Georgia’s western coastal city of Batumi earlier today, Batumi City Hall has reported.
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 ship Ocean Grand has entered Black Sea Poti Port, bringing in 14,000 tonne of high-quality US wheat, says the United States Embassy in Georgia.
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.