ABSTRACT
Defence planners, naval practitioners and maritime security experts frequently bemoan the fact that European naval power has been in constant decline since the end of the Cold War. This chapter outlines the challenges small(er) European naval forces have faced in the post-Cold War environment. It describes how small navies have navigated through a period of financial austerity on the one hand and a growing range of duties on the other. The chapter discusses the consequences the development has had within the context of maritime security and provides an outlook on Europe’s small navies. During the Cold War, geopolitical constraints informed European naval policies. European naval policies also placed increased emphasis on naval cooperation and integration. In order to trace the broad development of Europe’s small naval forces over the period of time under discussion, it is important to distinguish between the different ‘categories’ of small navies in Europe.
