USS Donald Cook wraps Black Sea operations

Feb. 11 (UPI) -- The USS Donald Cook concluded its Black Sea operations this week, the Navy said.

The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer transited to the Mediterranean Sea Wednesday after conducting presence operations in the Black Sea that started in late January.

Earlier this week the Cook and the USS Porter, as well as a P-8A reconnaissance plane, participated in a joint Navy exercise with the Turkish vessels TCG Orucreis and TCG Turgutreis and two F-16 fighter planes from Turkey's air force.

According to the Navy, the Cook made a port visit to Batumi, Georgia, last week.

Formally-dressed sailors were greeted by counterparts from the Georgian Coast Guard in a formal arrival ceremony before Cmdr. Matthew Curnen, Donald Cook's commanding officer, participated in a virtual meet and greet with senior officers from the Georgian Coast Guard, as well as Kelly Degnan, the U.S. ambassador to Georgia.

"We enjoyed an extremely warm welcome in Batumi, and then gained valuable tactical experience by practicing with our Turkish counterparts. I'm glad that even in the COVID era, we are able to work with partners to increase our collective readiness," Curnen said.

The Porter left its home port of Rota, Spain, in January to conduct routine maritime security operations in the Black Sea.

On Jan. 30, a Russian fighter jet conducted a low pass over the vessel in international waters.

The incident didn't prompt any formal complaints from the United States, but U.S. officials have criticized other recent Russian fighter plane activity in the area, such as Russia's interception of a U.S. Air Force B-52 bomber last August.