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USS Paul Ignatius Drills With Sweden and Finland in the Gulf of Bothnia
The U.S. Navy destroyer USS Paul Ignatius conducted combined maritime training with Swedish and Finnish forces in the Gulf of Bothnia during October 2026. Swedish and Finnish navigators embarked to support transit through the region's confined waters, followed by coordinated air-defense and surface-warfare activity and live firing against unmanned surface targets. Participating warships included Sweden's Visby-class corvette HMS Karlstad and Finland's minelayer Hämeenmaa, working with the American Arleigh Burke-class destroyer. The drills focused on practical navigation, tactical communications and allied operating procedures within NATO's northern maritime area, and were an exercise rather than a reported combat engagement.