TALLINN, Estonia –
The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Arleigh Burke (DDG 51) arrived in Tallinn, Estonia for a scheduled port visit to enhance U.S.-Estonia relations as the two nations work together for a stable, secure, and prosperous Europe, Sept. 4, 2021.
The ship’s presence in the Baltic Sea demonstrates the U.S. Navy’s continued commitment to collective defense of the European region and reinforces the strong bond between the United States and Estonia.
“Our crew looks forward to this port visit and relationships we expect to build here,” said Cmdr. Patrick Chapman, Commanding Officer of Arleigh Burke. “These types of visits allow us to gain enhanced ties with our allies and allow our crew to experience the rich history of Estonia.”
Arleigh Burke is on her first Forward Deployed Naval Forces-Europe (FDNF-E) patrol in the U.S. Sixth Fleet area of responsibility. She began her current patrol in early August and has sailed throughout the North Atlantic and Norwegian Sea prior to the port visit in Estonia.
While inport in Tallinn, the ship and her crew will have the opportunity to partake in several Morale, Welfare and Recreation tours and see many historical sights and experience the rich culture of Estonia and its citizens.
“We warmly welcome the visit of the USS Arleigh Burke to Estonia,” said U.S. Embassy Chargé d’Affaires Brian Roraff. “It is a tangible demonstration of the U.S. security commitment to Estonia and to NATO, and sends a clear message about our shared readiness to meet any global challenge. Defense cooperation is, and will remain, one of the most important pieces of the U.S.-Estonia relationship.”
Arleigh Burke is the first ship to pull into Tallinn in more than two years. The previous visit was from the U.S. Sixth Fleet command and control ship USS Mount Whitney (LCC 20) in July 2019.
The ship is named for Admiral Arleigh A. Burke and was commissioned on July 4, 1991. It is the lead ship of the Arleigh Burke class of guided-missile destroyers.
Four U.S. Navy destroyers are based in Rota, Spain and are assigned to Commander, Task Force 65 in support of NATO’s Integrated Air Missile Defense architecture. These FDNF-E ships have the flexibility to 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.
U.S. Sixth 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.