#                                                                         USS Arleigh Burke arrives in Riga, Latvia                                                                    

##### by USS Arleigh Burke Public Affairs

09 July 2022RIGA, Latvia -- 
                The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Arleigh Burke (DDG 51) arrived in Riga, Latvia for a scheduled port visit on July 9, 2022.                            220709-N-NO901-2002                            The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Arleigh Burke (DDG 51) arrived in Riga, Latvia for a scheduled port visit on July 9, 2022.            SHARE IMAGE:Download ImageImage DetailsPhoto By: Courtesy PhotoVIRIN: 220709-N-NO901-2002RIGA, Latvia - The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Arleigh Burke (DDG 51) arrived in Riga, Latvia for a scheduled port visit on July 9, 2022.

While in Riga, crew members will visit the NATO Strategic Center of Excellence, learn about the region’s history, and experience the city’s rich culture. Arleigh Burke will also provide tours to senior officials from the Latvian government, Ministry of Defense, National Armed Forces and U.S. Embassy team.

"Our crew is thrilled to be welcomed in Latvia’s beautiful capitol,” said Cmdr. Peter Flynn, the ship’s commanding officer.  “We are excited to further strengthen relationships within our alliance and to visit the NATO Strategic Communications Centre of Excellence. We will thoroughly enjoy experiencing Riga’s rich culture.”

Arleigh Burke is on its second patrol in U.S. Naval Forces Europe’s area of operations, working with NATO allies and partners in the region. Arleigh Burke began its current patrol in June, operating in the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea alongside allies and partners. The ship conducted port calls in Ferrol, Spain, and Villefranche-Sur-Mer, France, strengthening ties with Spanish and French navies.

Additionally, Arleigh Burke conducted interoperability exercises with the French and Spanish navies in the Atlantic and Mediterranean, highlighting the capability and capacity Forward Deployed Naval Forces-Europe (FDNF-E) ships bring to the European theater. Now in the Baltic Sea, Arleigh Burke continues its mission for diplomatic strengthening between NATO alliances.

These mobile, multi-mission capable ships routinely operate throughout the waters of Europe and Africa, from the Cape of Good Hope to the Arctic Circle, demonstrating their mastery of the maritime domain. Arleigh Burke is one of five U.S. Navy destroyers based at Naval Station Rota, Spain, and assigned to Commander Task Force 65 in support of NATO’s Integrated Air Missile Defense architecture.

For over 80 years, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-U.S. Naval Forces Africa (NAVEUR-NAVAF) has forged strategic relationships with our allies and partners, leveraging a foundation of shared values to preserve security and stability.

Headquartered in Naples, Italy, NAVEUR-NAVAF operates U.S. naval forces in the U.S. European Command (USEUCOM) and U.S. Africa Command (USAFRICOM) areas of responsibility. U.S. Sixth Fleet is permanently assigned to NAVEUR-NAVAF, and employs maritime forces through the full spectrum of joint and naval operations.

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**Latvia**Destroyer**USS Arleigh Burke (DDG 51)**port visit**NATO