Guided-missile cruiser USS Vella Gulf to enter Black Sea soon

22:01, 06.08.2014 1 min read

The Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Vella Gulf (CG 72) will enter the Black Sea on August 6, the Commander of U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa/U.S. 6th Fleet said in a statement.

The presence of the cruiser is "to promote peace and stability in the region," the statement reads.

"Vella Gulf's mission is to improve interoperability and work toward mutual goals, demonstrating the United States' commitment to strengthening the collective security of NATO allies and partners in the region," reads the statement.

Vella Gulf, homeported in Norfolk, Va., is deployed in a multi-mission role in the U.S. 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 region.

U.S. 6th Fleet, headquartered in Naples, Italy, conducts the full spectrum of joint and naval operations, often in concert with allied, joint, and interagency partners, in order to advance U.S. national interests and security and stability in Europe and Africa.