September 3, 2021
Tallinn, Estonia: The U.S. Embassy is pleased to announce that a U.S. Navy ship – the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Arleigh Burke (DDG 51) – will arrive in Tallinn, Estonia this weekend for a scheduled port visit. This port visit provides the opportunity to enhance U.S.-Estonia relations as the two nations work together for a stable, secure, and prosperous Europe.
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.
“We warmly welcome the visit of the USS Arleigh Burke to Estonia. 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,” said U.S. Embassy Chargé d’Affaires Brian Roraff.
The Arleigh Burke is on her first forward deployed patrol in the U.S. SIXTH Fleet area of responsibility. 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.
“It is an honor and a privilege to spend our first port visit in three years in the magnificent city of Tallinn”, Cdr. Patrick Chapman, Commanding Officer of Arleigh Burke said. “The Baltic Sea has long been of strategic importance to the overall security of the European theater and we are proud to sharpen our competitive edge alongside our strong allies in Estonia.”
The Arleigh Burke will be the first U.S. ship to visit Tallinn since the USS Mount Whitney in June 2019.
