Defense Minister attends reception onboard USCGC Hamilton
Defense Minister attends reception onboard USCGC Hamilton

Georgian Defense Minister Juansher Burchuladze attended an official reception onboard the US Coast Guard cutter USCGC Hamilton (WMSL 753) in Batum port of the Georgian Adjara region.

According to the Defense Ministry, Commander of the Georgian Defense Forces, General-Mayor Giorgi Matiashvili, Chairman of the parliamentary Defense and Security Committee, Irakli Beraia, Head of the Coast Guard Police, Colonel Nika Sharadze, the US Ambassador to Georgia Kelly Degnan and Chairman of the Adjara Autonomous Republic government Tornike Rizhvadze attended the reception.

The USCGC Hamilton (WMSL 753), a Legend-class U.S. Coast Guard national security cutter, is making its first port call in Batumi, Georgian Interior Ministry reports. The ship’s call serves to strengthen the security cooperation between the United States and Georgia, promote regional peace and stability, and emphasize the importance of the Black Sea for Euro-Atlantic security.

It is the first time the USCGC HAMILTON visited Georgia. The Coast Guard Department of the Border Police of the Ministry of Internal Affairs is hosting the ship in the territorial waters of Georgia. Before entering the Batumi Port, the USCGC Hamilton and the Georgian Coast Guard ships Dioscuria and Ochamchire conducted a series of joint naval exercises.

The exercise included naval tactical manoeuvres, search-and-rescue procedures, and other training elements using the USCGC helicopter. Joint training helps to increase interoperability between the US and Georgian Coast Guard units.

The US Coast Guard ship will leave the Batumi Port on May 6.