Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Ross (DDG 71) transited the Bosphorus Strait July 22, en route to the Black Sea to take part in Sea Breeze 2016.

Ross will be participating in the 15th iteration of Sea Breeze, an annual exercise held in the Black Sea designed to enhance interoperability and strengthen regional security.

Quote:

"The USS Ross looks forward to turning into the Bosphorus Straits once again to participate during this year's iteration of Sea Breeze." - Cmdr. Russell Caldwell, USS Ross (DDG 71), commanding officer

Quick Facts:

The U.S. Navy routinely operates in the Black Sea consistent with the Montreux Convention and international law.

Ross is currently working with allies and regional partners to help develop and improve maritime forces, maintain regional security and work toward mutual goals in order to advance security and stability in Europe.

Ross, forward-deployed to 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. The ship deployed from Naval Station Rota July 14.

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.

For more information, visit www.navy.mil, www.facebook.com/usnavy, or www.twitter.com/usnavy.

For more news from Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe and Africa/U.S. 6th Fleet, visit www.navy.mil/.