The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Ross (DDG 71) departed Naval Station Rota, Spain, Jan. 8, to begin its sixth forward-deployed naval forces (FDNF) patrol in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations.

The ship's patrol is a demonstration of the U.S. Navy's continued commitment to strengthening strategic partnerships in the European and African region.

"After a challenging and productive in-port period, Team Ross is excited to be back on mission in the European Theater of Operations. As we begin our sixth FDNF patrol, we look forward to building relations with our NATO allies and performing any national tasking assigned to us."

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

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/.