U.S. guided-missile destroyer Porter heading for Black Sea

"Porter's return to the Black Sea reaffirms U.S. 6th Fleet's and the U.S. Navy's commitment to our NATO allies and partners. Our participation in multinational exercises like Sea Breeze are a tangible representation of U.S. resolve for the collective defense of Europe," said Vice Adm. Gene Black, commander of U.S. 6th Fleet.

According to the report, the exercise is scheduled to involve 2,000 personnel from eight nations, comprised of 27 ships and 19 aircraft.

Porter, along with additional U.S. Navy P-8 aircraft from Patrol Squadron VP (47), will be participating in the U.S. and Ukrainian cohosted exercise Sea Breeze. The U.S. Navy routinely operates in the Black Sea consistent with international law, including the Montreux Convention.

Sea Breeze seeks to build combined capability and capacity to ensure maritime regional security and foster cooperative relationships among partnering nations. Sea Breeze is in its 20th iteration and is scheduled to involve 2,000 personnel from eight nations, comprised of 27 ships and 19 aircraft.

Nations scheduled to participate in Sea Breeze 2020 include Bulgaria, Georgia, Norway, Romania, Spain, Turkey, Ukraine, and the United States.

Porter, forward-deployed to Naval Station Rota, Spain, is conducting naval operations in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations in support of U.S. national security interests in Europe.

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