Tallin, Estonia — The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Roosevelt (DDG 80) returned to the Baltic Sea, Jan. 17, 2023, after a scheduled port visit to Tallinn, Estonia.
From Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Danielle Baker, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa/U.S. Sixth Fleet.
While in Tallinn, the ship refueled and received stores and mail and hosted various distinguished visitors aboard the ship. Roosevelt Sailors had the opportunity to experience Estonia’s rich culture while on liberty in the local area.
“Never in my life did I think I’d have this great opportunity to see a beautiful country like Estonia,” said Cryptologic Technician (Technical) Seaman Apprentice Drake Handlos. “The country is rich with history, and I really enjoyed exploring it with some of my closest friends.”
Roosevelt hosted Montana Senator Steve Daines, his Chief of Staff Darin Thacker, U.S. Chargé d’Affaires Gabrielle Cowan, and Estonian Minister of Foreign Affairs Urmas Reinsalu while in Estonia’s capital city. The ship’s crew also hosted a luncheon for Commodore Jüri Saska, Commander of the Estonian Navy, and Master Chief Petty Officer of the Estonian Navy, Master Chief Erki Piirfeldt, and other Estonian Navy staff personnel.
“The Sixth Fleet Area of Operations is geographically large, diverse both in culture and capability, and also vitally important strategically,” said Cmdr. John Mastriani, Roosevelt’s Commanding Officer. “Port visits like this one give our Sailors some well-deserved rest and relaxation, while also allowing us the invaluable opportunity to build tightknit relationships with our Allies. Roosevelt’s work here with the Estonians contributes to the strength and cohesion of the NATO alliance through the safe and professional execution of operations at sea.”
Roosevelt’s visit to Tallinn reaffirms the U.S. Navy’s commitment to NATO Allies and partners by ensuring maritime security in the region. The ship’s visit to Tallinn follows multiple U.S. stops to the port city in 2022, demonstrating the cohesion and combined capability of like-minded nations in the Baltic Sea.
Roosevelt, forward-deployed to Rota, Spain, began its fourth Forward Deployed Naval Forces-Europe (FDNF-E) patrol Sept. 27 in the U.S. Naval Forces Europe area of operations, employed by U.S. Sixth Fleet to defend U.S., allied and partner interests.
For more than 80 years, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-U.S. Naval Forces Africa (NAVEUR-NAVAF) has forged strategic relationships with allies and partners, leveraging a foundation of shared values to preserve security and stability.
Headquartered in Naples, Italy, NAVEUR-NAVAF operates U.S. naval forces in the U.S. European Command (USEUCOM) and U.S. Africa Command (USAFRICOM) areas of responsibility. U.S. Sixth Fleet is permanently assigned to NAVEUR-NAVAF, and employs maritime forces through the full spectrum of joint and naval operations.
