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ISTANBUL, TÜRKİYE - AUGUST 18: The "Blue Ridge" class command and control ship of the US Navy, USS Mount Whitney was introduced to Turkish press in Sarayburnu port of Istanbul,Türkiye on Friday (August 18).US Ambassador to Ankara, Jeffry L. Flake, and Istanbul Consul General, Julie Eadeh, visited the USS Mount Whitney, which serves under US Sixth Fleet and US Naval Forces Europe-Africa Command (NAVEUR-NAVAF).“Obviously 70 years with Turkey's entrance into NATO, but even before that, when US and Turkish troops fought alongside each other in the Korean War. So the partnership goes back a long way and there's no better way to symbolize this ongoing partnership than to have this vessel here today”, said Flake adressing to Turkish press.Thomas Ishee, Commander of the US Sixth Fleet, said “I'm just very glad to be able to be here. I'm very much looking forward to my interactions with the Turkish navy partners here. An excellent indication of the great professional relationship we have with the Turkish navy, and we value their partnership both as a U.S. partner, but also as a NATO partner.”Commanding Officer Mathhew Kiser said, “It's also an honor for my crew and I to visit this incredible city and make a port visit upon Istanbul. And it's such a testament to the enduring partnership that we have with such an important NATO ally like Türkiye.”During the press tour, the various sections of the ship, including the dining hall, galley, wheelhouse, and deck, were showcased to the attending press members.Kiser provided insights into the USS Mount Whitney, detailing its status as the flagship of the US Sixth Fleet, boasting a crew of 300 personnel, half civilians and half military. (Footage by Arif Murat Kayacan/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)