European Naval Power

“In his latest work, Stöhs expands his analytical horizon to assess post-Cold War European naval operations, driven by national and transnational requirements, and their role within the traditional NATO alliance structure. Stöhs skillfully teases apart strategy, force structures, and operations to reaffirm a vital truth – that collective naval employment amongst NATO allies and partners remains the most desirable policy choice.”

— Admiral James Stavridis, USN, (Ret), 16th Supreme Allied Commander at NATO

“Western navies are facing both, a looming cold war and an ongoing hybrid war at sea. For that, they must be readied. This is the definitive study on European naval power and will be indispensable to policy-makers, naval analysts, military officers, and industry leaders alike.”

— Dr. Sebastian Bruns, Senior Researcher Institute for Security Policy, Kiel University

“Naval forces play a critical role in safeguarding Europe’s prosperity and constitute the linchpin upon which rests the defense of the transatlantic alliance. Stöhs does a masterful job in providing an in-depth view of the evolution of European naval power from the end of the Cold War to today’s era of hybrid threats.”

— Admiral James Foggo III, USN, (Ret), Former Commander of United States Naval Forces Europe-Africa and Allied Joint Force Command Naples

This book charts new waters in the study of European naval power. It explores the evolution of Europe’s navies from the final days of the Cold War to a period of hybrid wars and renewed strategic competition, manifest in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and China’s increasingly aggressive behavior in the Asia-Pacific Region. The author highlights how inconsistencies and shortsighted naval policies have led to dangerous capability shortfalls and offers several recommendations for navies to navigate successfully the future maritime environment.

Dr. Jeremy Stöhs isa security and defense analyst, the Deputy Director of the Austrian Center for Intelligence, Propaganda & Security Studies (ACIPSS), and a Fellow at the Institute for Security Policy at Kiel University (ISPK).