USS Vella Gulf Arrives in Bulgaria

By Eric Haun May 30, 2014

USS Vella Gulf (CG 72) approaches Varna, Bulgaria (U.S. Navy photo by Edward Guttierrez III)

Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Vella Gulf (CG 72) arrived in Varna, Bulgaria, for a scheduled port visit, May 30, the U.S. Navy announced.

According to the Navy, Vella Gulf's presence in Bulgaria reaffirms the United States' commitment to strengthening ties with NATO allies and partners, while working toward mutual goals of promoting peace and stability in the region.

While in Bulgaria, Vella Gulf Sailors will participate in community relations events at the Bulgarian Naval Academy and a local orphanage, visit the Bulgarian Naval Museum and tour the historic city of Varna.

Vella Gulf, homeported in Norfolk, Va., is deployed in a multimission role in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations to contribute to regional maritime security, conduct bilateral and multilateral training missions, and to support NATO operations and deployments throughout the region.

U.S. 6th Fleet, headquartered in Naples, Italy, conducts a full range of maritime security operations and theater security cooperation missions in concert with coalition, joint, interagency, and other partners in order to advance security and stability in Europe and Africa.

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