The U.S. Navy Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Roosevelt (DDG 80) arrived in Riga, Latvia, for a scheduled port visit, August 6, 2023. Roosevelt, forward-deployed to Naval Station Rota, Spain, is on her fifth Forward Deployed Naval Forces-Europe (FDNF-E) patrol. While in port Riga, the ship is replenishing stores and fuels and hosting distinguished visitors, demonstrating the strength of the U.S.-Latvian partnership. In addition, the crew is enjoying the opportunity to experience Riga’s rich cultural heritage. While in Riga, Roosevelt expects to host high-ranking officials with the Government of Latvia and the United States Ambassador to Latvia for a luncheon.
“Over our last several patrols, Roosevelt has visited nearly every one of our NATO allies in the Baltic, but we have yet to see Latvia. This is a huge win for the crew, and we’re so excited for the opportunity to experience the Latvian culture ashore as we’ve worked with the Latvian Navy at sea in the past,” said Lt. j.g. Maryrose Stone.
“Latvia hosted Roosevelt several weeks ago for a live fire gunnery exercise, where we shot our 5-inch gun onto the Latvian range while in [their] territorial waters. This proved yet another critical capability between two NATO partners, while strengthening our alliance. Roosevelt has been on patrol for two months, with the majority of our time operating in the Baltic Sea,” said Cmdr. Jeffrey Chewning, Roosevelt’s commanding officer.
Roosevelt has participated in numerous exercises during that time, to include Neptune Strike 23-2, Standing NATO Maritime Group One (SNMG-1) operations, and a Naval Surface Fire Support live fire exercise off the coast of Latvia. Roosevelt, forward-deployed to Rota, Spain, began its fifth Forward Deployed Naval Forces-Europe (FDNF-E) patrol June 27 in the U.S. Naval Forces Europe area of operations, employed by U.S. Sixth Fleet to defend allied and partner interests. 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.
USS Roosevelt (DDG-80) is an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer in service with the United States Navy. This is the first ship so named to honor both Franklin D. Roosevelt, the 32nd President of the United States and the former First Lady, Eleanor Roosevelt. This ship is the 30th destroyer of her class. USS Roosevelt was the 13th ship of this class to be built at Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula, Mississippi, and construction began on 15 December 1997. She was launched on 10 January 1999 and was christened on 23 January 1999. On 14 October 2000 the commissioning ceremony was held at Naval Station Mayport, Florida, with Commander Matthew E. Bobola in command.
