U.S. Maritime Strategy In a Post-Cold War World?

This monograph examines the impact of future U.S. military force reductions in Europe upon the Maritime Component of U.S. National Military Strategy. A chain reaction of historic events in Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union has dramatically altered the strategic paradigm of East-West relationships. If the Cold War is over, as many pundits and policymakers would argue, then a major strategic reassessment is in order. This research attempts to define those key tenets of America's current maritime strategy which will have continuing relevance in a changing geopolitical environment. The monograph lays the theoretical and historical foundations of U.S. maritime strategy as currently written. It also discusses the forces of change which are driving troop reductions in Europe. The U.S. maritime strategy is one element of a national security strategy based on deterrence, forward defense and alliance solidarity. American defense policy has been focused toward the Soviet Union for over 40 years, and logically the Maritime Component of U.S. National Military Strategy has evolved to meet this threat. The heart of the monograph is the analysis of the changing European strategic paradigm and geopolitical situation to determine if the four basic tenets of the current maritime strategy are still valid. The paper concludes that a major strategic review is in order. Reductions of military forces in Europe will not only increase the role and importance of the Maritime Component of our National Military Strategy, but may require major changes in the way we structure, equip and define our maritime forces.