U.S. Marines to Join Finnish Navy in Gulf of Finland Under NATO’s Baltic Sentry

On Oct. 19, 2026, Finnish Defense Minister Antti Häkkänen approved the deployment of a U.S. Marine Corps unit to work with the Finnish Navy on improving maritime domain awareness in the Gulf of Finland.

The mission is part of Baltic Sentry, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s (NATO) enhanced Vigilance Activity in the Baltic Sea. Häkkänen said the effort, which follows a successful collaboration with the Marines in spring 2025, will strengthen Finnish and regional security.