US Marines to deploy to Baltic Sea to support NATO Baltic Sentry mission

The US Pentagon announced on October 2, 2026 that approximately 40 Marines from the 2nd Reconnaissance Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, based at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina, will be deployed to the Baltic Sea region to support the NATO Baltic Sentry security initiative.

Role and capabilities

The Marine unit will work alongside Finland's Coastal Brigade, conducting surveillance and tactical reconnaissance. They will also employ small unmanned aerial vehicles and coastal sensors, with collected intelligence feeding into NATO's joint operational system to help allies detect potential threats in the region more quickly.

Major General Daniel Shipley, Commander of US Marine Forces Europe and Africa, stated that the deployment demonstrates the US ability to rapidly move specialised forces to where they are most needed.

Baltic Sentry and regional security

Baltic Sentry is a joint NATO defence initiative focused on protecting critical underwater infrastructure in the Baltic Sea, including subsea cables and pipelines. The initiative gained urgency following a series of incidents involving suspected sabotage of Baltic undersea infrastructure over recent years. European NATO members will coordinate through Allied Joint Force Command Brunssum and NATO's Maritime Command, while the US Marine Corps provides additional support and capability.