STUTTGART, Germany - The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Carney (DDG 64) and the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Hue City (CG 66) entered the Black Sea July 8 and 9, 2017.

Carney and Hue City will both participate in the multinational exercise Sea Breeze 2017, an annual recurring exercise that focuses on maritime interdiction operations, air defense, anti-submarine warfare, damage control tactics, search and rescue, and amphibious warfare.

Sea Breeze is currently in its 17th iteration and is co-hosted by the United States and Ukraine, with the participation of 16 allied and partner countries. Carney and Hue City will participate in multiple phases of Sea Breeze, in conjunction with other U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps assets.

"We're building strong relationships here, which are crucial to peace and stability in the region." said Capt. Dan Gillen, commanding officer, Hue City.  "Our presence and participation in Sea Breeze bolsters confidence and reassures our allies and regional partners of our commitment to security in the Black Sea. We are excited for this opportunity to be an integral part of continuing progress between all participating nations."

Additional U.S. participation is expected to include a P-8A Poseidon from Maritime Patrol Squadron (VP) 16, elements of Naval Special Warfare Unit 2, the U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa/U.S. 6th Fleet Maritime Ashore Support Team, a Fleet Antiterrorism Security Team, Explosive Ordnance Disposal
Mobile Unit 8, Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 1, Underwater Construction Team 1 and members of the U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa and U.S. 6th Fleet staff. In total, approximately 800 U.S. Sailors and U.S. Marines are expected to participate.

More info at: http://www.c6f.navy.mil/ and photos at:
http://www.c6f.navy.mil/news/uss-hue-city-and-uss-carney-arrive-odessa-ukraine 

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U.S. European Command is one of the United States' two forward-deployed Geographic Combatant Commands whose area of focus cover almost one-fifth of the planet, including all of Europe, large portions of Asia, parts of the Middle East and the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans. The command is responsible for military relations with NATO and 51 countries with a total population of close to a billion people.