U.S. warship arrives in Georgia for joint drills

A U.S. missile cruiser arrived on Monday in Georgia to take part in joint naval drills with the Georgian navy, Novosti-Georgia news agency reported citing border police. USS Philippine Sea (CG-58) is a Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruiser equipped with the Aegis combat system. It is one of the U.S. warships being deployed in the Mediterranean as part of the Phased Adaptive Approach program designed to shape the European segment of the U.S.-led project to build a global missile defense network. “Joint exercises of the U.S. cruiser and Georgian P-101 and P-102 coast guard patrol boats will be held on Tuesday,” the border police said in a statement. The U.S. Embassy in Georgia earlier said that the purpose of the drills is to "strengthen regional stability and maritime partnerships with Black Sea countries," which is part of the strategy of the European Command of the Armed Forces and the U.S. Navy's 6th Fleet. The Philippine Sea is expected to leave Georgia’s territorial waters on October 20.