A general view of Batumi is seen from the USS Mount Whitney, October 12, 2016. Photo from U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa website

The U.S. 6th Fleet command and control ship USS Mount Whitney (LCC 20) arrived in Batumi on Georgia’s Black Sea coast for “a scheduled port visit” on October 12.

The flagship of the 6th Fleet, which is homeported in Gaeta, Italy, entered the Black Sea on October 10 to “enhance maritime security, stability, readiness, and strengthen partnerships with our allies and partners,” according to the U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa

“It is a great opportunity to come into the Black Sea to continue our partnerships with the Black Sea nations, Georgia being one of our best, and we look forward to this port call,” Rear Admiral Daryl L. Caudle, Deputy Commander, U.S. 6th Fleet, said.

This is the fourth port visit to Georgia by the USS Mount Whitney.

It delivered humanitarian aid to the port of Poti in early September 2008, less than a month after Georgia-Russia war; at the time Russian military forces were still maintaining two outposts in the outskirts of Poti. The Mount Whitney also made port visit to Georgia in November, 2013 and then in October, 2014.