The Marine Corps unit, consisting of around 40 personnel, will cooperate with the Finnish Navy’s Coastal Brigade. Their role includes the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to improve maritime surveillance and contribute to the recognised maritime picture.
NATO’s Enhanced Vigilance Activity (EVA) is a key component of the alliance’s collective defence strategy. It focuses on safeguarding critical infrastructure in the Baltic Sea through increased monitoring and intelligence-sharing.
For the Finnish Navy, this initiative means an expanded presence at sea, enhanced surveillance, and greater collaboration with allied forces. The increased information exchange and joint exercises further reinforce Finland’s integration into NATO’s security framework.
This marks the first such cooperation between the Finnish Navy and US forces since the Defence Cooperation Agreement (DCA) between Finland and the United States came into effect on 1 September 2024. The agreement facilitates closer military ties and joint operations between the two nations.
Finland’s Minister of Defence, Antti Häkkänen, confirmed the US Marine Corps’ involvement in enhancing the recognised maritime picture in the Gulf of Finland. Their mission will involve tracking vessel movements and monitoring undersea infrastructure alongside the Finnish Navy.
Minister Häkkänen emphasised that this collaboration strengthens Finland’s security and contributes to regional stability. He described it as a continuation of Finland’s active participation in international military exercises with NATO allies.
Last year, Finland conducted approximately 100 separate military exercises both domestically and abroad. A formal decision is required to finalise this latest phase of cooperation between Finland and the United States.
