Embassy confirms U.S. frigate in Georgia

TBILISI, Georgia, Dec. 29 (UPI) -- A U.S. Navy frigate arrived in the Georgian port city of Batumi Monday for a two-day visit, the U.S. embassy in Georgia said.

An embassy spokesman, who was not identified, confirmed the guided missile frigate USS Taylor and its 20-member crew was making a routine stop in Georgia, RIA Novosti reported.

Georgian coast guard members paired with local officials to greet the Taylor's crew, the spokesman said. The crew will not take part in any drills during its port visit, but several cultural events are scheduled in the area.

The Georgian port cities of Poti and Batumi have both been hosting U.S. warships since 2001 as part of the two countries' alliance.

In late November, the guided missile destroyer USS Barry arrived in Georgia, RIA Novosti said.

The visits by U.S. military forces coincide with Georgia's ongoing tensions with its larger neighbor, Russia, which invaded Georgia this year after Georgia set troops into its restive state of South Ossetia.