The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile cruiser USS Donald Cook (DDG 75) arrived in Algiers, Algeria March 5, 2019 for a scheduled port visit. The visit serves to enhance U.S.-Algeria relations as the two nations work together to strengthen regional security.
The ship’s presence in the North Africa is a demonstration of our continued commitment to regional security. The port visit in Algiers is a testament to the strong and developing security and military partnership between the United States and Algeria.
“The crew of Donald Cook looks forward to this port visit and the relationships we expect to build here,” said Cmdr. Matthew Powel, Donald Cook’s commanding officer. “Our sister ship, the USS Carney, visited last year and conducted valuable training with our Algerian partners. We look forward to the same opportunity in the days to come.”
Following the port visit to Algiers, Carney will participate in an exercise with an Algerian Navy vessel to promote interoperability between the two navies.
The last U.S. Navy vessel to visit Algeria was USS Carney (DDG 64) in July 2018, during which the Carney conducted a naval exercise with the Koni-class frigate RAIS Korfu. Opportunities to train, such as this, demonstrates our commitment to strengthening the partnership between our two navies and ensuring that we are more capable of working together in the region. Algeria is a longstanding and valued regional partner that participates in a variety exercises critical to regional security.
Donald Cook, forward-deployed to Rota, Spain is currently conducting its eighth forward-deployed patrol in support of U.S. national security interests in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations.
U.S. 6th 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.