US guided-missile destroyer enters Black Sea

The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Porter entered the Black Sea, Feb. 2, 2017, in order to conduct maritime security operations and enhance capability and interoperability with allies and partners in the region.

While in the Black Sea, Porter is scheduled to participate in exercise Sea Shield 2017. Exercise Sea Shield is an annual Romanian-led multinational exercise in the Black Sea to improve interoperability and proficiency of participating units.

"Porter has routinely operated in the Black Sea over the past few years, demonstrating our continued commitment to security and stability in the region," the commanding officer USS Porter, Cmdr. Andria Slough, said.

According to the Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, the Russian Defense Ministry sees and controls everything that is taking place at the NATO drills in the Black Sea.