A U.S. warship has arrived in Georgia's Black Sea port of Batumi to take part in joint naval drills with the Georgian Coast Guard.

The guided-missile cruiser, the USS Philippine Sea, arrived in Georgia on Monday. The ship's captain, Herbert Hadley, says the crew will interact with the host nation on a personal level through military-to-military training courses and community service projects.

In addition to exercises in boat maintenance, electronics and boarding operations, the American crew will also hold a reception and conduct a beach clean-up with area residents.

The U.S. Embassy in Tbilisi says the regularly scheduled port call is part of the Sixth Fleet's efforts to build global maritime partnerships with Black Sea nations to strengthen regional stability and improve maritime safety and security.