US Marines head to the Baltic Sea to help NATO mission aimed at protecting European undersea cables from Russian interference
Around four dozen reconnaissance and intelligence Marines are joining Finnish forces on NATO's Baltic Sentry watch, bringing drones and coastal sensors rather than firepower to that front.
Forty-four US reconnaissance and intelligence Marines are accompanying NATO's Baltic Sentry mission along Finland's Coastal Brigade to protect undersea cables and pipelines in the Baltic Sea from potential Russian interference. The Corps is deploying the second team of Marines to the region, following the initial 40-member deployment in February 2025.
These Marines will operate alongside Finland's Coastal Brigade, providing drone and sensor data to NATO's shared operational picture. The US Marines are not leading the effort; instead, they are supporting the mission as a part of a collaborative effort between European allies and NATO. The mission has been ongoing since January 2025, following a series of incidents that raised concerns about Russian activities in the region.
Russian trawlers were repeatedly found near cables linking Britain to Europe and the US, prompting the United Kingdom to propose stricter penalties for cable damage.
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