USS Donald Cook Arrives in Durres, Albania

From U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa/U.S. 6th Fleet Public Affairs

DURRES, Albania (NNS) -- Guided-missile destroyer USS Donald Cook (DDG 75) arrived in Durres, Albania, for a port visit, June 26.

This port visit serves to continue U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa/U.S. 6th Fleet's efforts to strengthen maritime partnerships in order to enhance regional stability.

While the ship is in port, USS Donald Cook Sailors will be conducting a maritime interdiction operations exchange with their counterparts from the Albanian navy, Border Police, and Customs Service. Senior officers and officials from the U.S. Navy, the U.S. Embassy, and the Albanian government and military will take this opportunity to discuss regional cooperation and efforts between the two nations.

These exchanges and discussions will help build command understanding of maritime tactics and increase the professionalism, cultural understanding and trust between the U.S. and Albanian navies.

Donald Cook is the first of four Arleigh Burke-class destroyers to be forward-deployed to Rota, Spain, to serve as part of the President's European Phased Adaptive Approach (EPAA) to ballistic missile defense in Europe.

U.S. 6th Fleet, headquartered in Naples, Italy, conducts the full spectrum of joint and naval operations, often in concert with allied, joint, and interagency partners, in order to advance U.S. national interests and security and stability in Europe and Africa.