VARNA, Bulgaria –
The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Carney (DDG 64) departed Varna, Bulgaria, Feb. 22, 2018, after a scheduled port visit.
Strengthening alliances during the visit to Varna demonstrates a shared commitment to promote security and stability within the region, while seeking opportunities to enhance our interoperability with our NATO allies and partners in the Black Sea.
“The crew and I enjoyed our stay in Varna,” said Cmdr. Peter F. Halvorsen, commanding officer of Carney. “We are thankful for the hospitality of the Bulgarian Navy and the city of Varna and we are appreciative to have received the opportunity to experience what Varna has to offer. It was a very productive visit, including both community relations projects and exchanges with the Bulgarian Navy – which is so important to maintaining an enduring alliance.”
While in Varna, members of the crew hosted a luncheon for the Bulgarian chief of naval operations, experienced the city’s historical and cultural treasures during three different guided tours and watched a performance provided by children at a local elementary school.
Members of Carney’s crew also visited the Nikola Vaptsarov Naval Academy, where they conducted bilateral ship exercises with sailors from the Bulgarian navy using ship simulators.
USS Carney (DDG 64), forward-deployed to Rota, Spain is conducting a routine patrol to support U.S. national security interests in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations, and demonstrate a continued commitment to the collective security of the European region.
U.S. 6th Fleet, headquartered in Naples, Italy, conducts the full spectrum of joint and naval operations, often in concert with allied and interagency partners, in order to advance U.S. national interests and security and stability in Europe and Africa.