Finnish Navy to supplement recognised maritime picture together with US Marine Corps

Finland's Minister of Defence Antti Häkkänen has decided that the United States Marine Corps will participate in supplementing the recognised maritime picture in the Gulf of Finland in cooperation with the Finnish Navy.

A platoon-sized unit of the US Marine Corps will take part in Baltic Sentry, the NATO-led surveillance activity in the Baltic Sea. The US Marine Corps unit will help create the recognised maritime picture and monitor critical undersea infrastructure in the Gulf of Finland by identifying and tracking vessel movements together with the Finnish Navy.

"Having the US Marine Corps unit in Finland and as part of NATO's Baltic Sentry will strengthen the security of Finland and the Baltic Sea region. This cooperation is a continuation of our active international exercises with our Allies," says Minister of Defence Häkkänen.

Last year, around 100 separate exercises were held in Finland and abroad. A separate decision is needed to formalise the cooperation.

Inquiries: Antti Rajahalme, Senior Staff Officer, Ministry of Defence, tel. +358 295 140 059.