The U.S. Navy’s Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Monterey (CG 61) conducted a two-day port visit in Romania, March 22-23, 2021 as part of their mission to conduct presence operations in the Black Sea region and participate in the Romanian-led exercise Sea Shield 2021, the U.S. Navy announced.
The cruiser left the Black Sea after the port visit on March 24.
Sea Shield 2021 Exercise:
Sea Shield 21 is an annual Romanian-led multinational naval exercise in the Black Sea focused on enhancing interoperability between U.S. and participating nations, emphasizing anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, anti-air warfare, and mine countermeasures mission sets.
Monterey, and USS Thomas Hudner, and P-8s from Patrol Squadron 46, participated in Sea Shield 2021 which demonstrates our commitment to deploying leading technology and combat capability in support of our Allies and partners in the Black Sea region.
Maritime forces from Albania, Bulgaria, Croatia, France, Greece, Italy, Japan, The Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Standing NATO Maritime Group TWO, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and Ukraine are scheduled to participate in Sea Shield 2021.
U.S. Navy keeps deploying in the Black Sea
The Black Sea is a critical waterway for maritime commerce and stability in Europe. Combined operations in the Black Sea will strengthen interoperability between NATO allies, including Turkey, Ukraine, Georgia, Bulgaria, and Romania. Black Sea operations also demonstrate the U. S. Navy’s commitment to peace and security in the U.S. Sixth Fleet Area of Responsibility.
The U.S. Navy routinely operates ships in the Black Sea consistent with the Montreux Convention and International Law.
USS Monterey is deployed as part of the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group (IKECSG), supporting national security interests in Europe and increasing theater cooperation and forward naval presence in the U.S. Sixth Fleet (SIXTHFLT) area of operations.
