US Marines join Baltic monitoring in Gulf of Finland

US Marines will take part in monitoring the Baltic Sea in the Gulf of Finland, Yle reports, citing a statement from Finland’s Ministry of Defence.

Defence Minister Antti Häkkänen has approved cooperation with the Finnish Navy. A detachment of about platoon strength will come to Finland to supplement the country’s maritime situational awareness in the Baltic Sea, he said.

Häkkänen said the cooperation continues active international exercises with Finland’s allies. It is part of a NATO-led monitoring operation intended to strengthen the alliance’s ability to prevent and deter threats and improve the collection of situational information.