Captain of US command ship says S. Korea-US alliance has 'never been stronger'

The captain of the command ship of the U.S. Navy's 7th Fleet said Monday the decadeslong alliance between South Korea and the United States has "never been stronger," as the warship has made its first port call in nearly six years in the South. Captain Louis Catalina, commanding officer of the USS Blue Ridge, made the remarks in a press tour aboard the command ship at a major naval base in the southeastern city of Busan. The 19,600-ton USS Blue Ridge made a port visit at the naval base on Thursday to replenish supplies and provide rest for crew members. It marked the first port call of the U.S. warship in Busan since February 2020. Catalina said the warship's visit was a demonstration of the U.S.' "ironclad" commitment to the Seoul-Washingon alliance. "Being the commanding officer of USS Blue Ridge, the strength between the Republic of Korean Navy and the Republic of Korea and the U.S. has never been stronger," Catalina said. "We continue to execute joint exercises, exchanges and collaborative responses between our nations and it was on display during Freedom Edge," he added, referring toWeiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times Weiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times