U.S. Marines to Support European-Led NATO Security Initiative in the Baltic Sea

By Master Gunnery Sgt. Scott Schmidt, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Europe and Africa

A specialized team of U.S. Marines currently deployed to Europe will be re-tasked to the Baltic Sea region to support the NATO-led Enhanced Vigilance Activity Baltic Sentry.

Around four dozen U.S. Marines from 2nd Reconnaissance Battalion, 2nd Marine Division and II Marine Expeditionary Force Information Group based out of Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., will operate alongside the Finish Coastal Brigade to provide advanced expeditionary surveillance and tactical reconnaissance capabilities. The activity is designed to enhance maritime domain awareness to protect critical undersea infrastructure and general security in the Baltic Sea.

Baltic Sentry represents a highly integrated collective defense effort. It is led by European allies under Allied Joint Force Command Brunssum and Allied Maritime Command, with the U.S. Marine Corps serving in a supportive, enabling capacity.

Commander of U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Europe and Africa, Maj. Gen. Daniel Shipley said the operational design is a premier example of European allies spearheading regional maritime security while the U.S. projects highly specialized, agile force multipliers.

“Our participation in Baltic Sentry demonstrates the dynamic agility of the Marine Corps to rapidly project specialized capabilities where they are most effective,” said Shipley. “Working side-by-side with our Finnish allies strengthens our collective readiness, ensuring we can operate seamlessly as a cohesive, lethal team to deter hybrid threats in the Baltic littoral.”

The rotation will leverage the unique capabilities of Reconnaissance Marines, including small Unmanned Aerial Systems and littoral sensors, to feed vital data directly into the shared NATO common operational picture.

“The experience, skills and systems of the U.S. Marine Corps are perfectly suited for supplementing our situation picture and supporting our monitoring of the Baltic Sea,” said the Chief of Operations of the Finnish Navy, Captain (N) Johan Tillander.

Maintaining stability along Europe’s critical maritime choke points protects the physical and economic security of the transatlantic community. As a defensive vigilance activity, Baltic Sentry underscores that the Alliance possesses the immediate readiness, technological adaptability, and collective resolve to deter and decisively defeat any threat to regional stability.