The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Carney (DDG 64) departed Odessa, Ukraine, to participate in the second, at-sea phase of exercise Sea Breeze 2017.

While in Odessa, Carney hosted a reception for distinguished visitors and gave a tour of the ship to the President of Ukraine, Petro Poroshenko.
Quote:

"It's been busy our second time here in Odessa. We've had the privilege of welcoming aboard President Poroshenko of Ukraine; the Ambassador to Ukraine, Ambassador Yovanovitch; and Vice Adm. Grady, commander, U.S. 6th Fleet, amongst many other distinguished guests. It has been a tremendous honor to represent the United States of America and have the opportunity to build our mutual operating capacity with our allies in the Black Sea. We look forward to getting back underway and finishing up Sea Breeze."
- Cmdr. Peter Halvorsen, commanding officer, USS Carney

Quick Facts:

* Sea Breeze is a U.S. and Ukraine co-hosted multi-national maritime exercise held in the Black Sea and is designed to improve training value for participants, enhance flexibility and interoperability, and demonstrate resolve among allied and partner forces in defending the Black Sea region.

* Petro Poroshenko is the fifth and current President of Ukraine; he has been in office since 2014. He visited Carney for a tour on July 17, 2017.

* Marie Yovanovitch is the U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine. She previously served as Ambassador to the Republic of Armenia (2008-2011) and the Kyrgyz Republic (2005-2008). She most recently served as the Dean of the School of Language Studies at the Foreign Service Institute, U.S. Department of State.

* Carney Sailors volunteered at the Odessa Regional Eye Hospital for Veterans, conducting landscaping.

* USS Carney entered the Black Sea July 8, 2017, to demonstrate the U.S. commitment to the collective defense of our allies and partners in the Black Sea region. All DoD efforts in support of our allies in Eastern Europe fall under Operation Atlantic Resolve.

* Carney, forward-deployed to Rota, Spain, is conducting its third patrol in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations.

* 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.


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