US Navy Destroyer Jason Dunham To Enter Black Sea

US Navy guided-missile destroyer Jason Dunham will enter the Black Sea on Friday in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve.

“The American destroyer has completed the passing of the closed sea [the Bosporus] and entered the zone of the Black Sea,” a diplomatic source was quoted as saying by various media on Thursday.

The ship will stay in the Black Sea water zone until April 14, and it is expected to visit the Ukrainian port city of Odessa.

“The ship’s presence in the Black Sea demonstrates the United States’ commitment to working closely with allies to enhance maritime security and stability, readiness, and naval capability,” the US 6th Fleet said.

About 750 US Army tanks and thousands of troops were deployed to Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia for Atlantic Resolve activities “to deter Russian aggression."

US and NATO said, they are holding Atlantic Resolve drills to strengthen security in the alliance’s member states in light of the conflict in Ukraine.

Jason Dunham is an Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer of the US Navy, introduced in 2010. It is equipped with two missile launchers “Aegis” that are able to carry up to 56 “Tomahawk” cruise missiles.

The ship with a 380-strong crew also has a group of two SH-60 “Sea Hawk” helicopters on board.

The build-up of NATO forces in Eastern Europe “is an unprecedentedly dangerous step” that violates Russia’s agreements with the alliance, a Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman said on Thursday.