Options for NATO Multinational Maritime Forces (NMMFS) The political upheaval in Central and Eastern Europe marked 1989 as a critical watershed in East/West relations. The imminent drawdown of Western naval forces being proposed as a result of these fundamental political and military structural changes in Europe has prompted an investigation into the increased use of multinational forces at sea by both NATO staffs and the individual nations of the Alliance. The CNWS 1990/91 study "Arms Reduction in Europe: Some Implications for Naval Operations" examined the impact of the force reductions in Europe on the employment and posture of the navies of the major Western powers. The paper discussed the future security policy of the Alliance setting the backdrop against which the contribution of maritime forces could be measured. Future roles, tasks and missions were developed, and the effects on availability and readiness were explored. The final chapter of the Study reviewed the impact these changes could have on the role that multinationality would play in meeting the requirement for future Alliance maritime forces. Three options were generated and they are presented here together with discussion of their advantages and drawbacks. Separate publication of these options is warranted in order to more readily join the current debate on future NMMF requirements. Although the chapter has been modified to stand alone, it is recommended that the complete Study be reviewed to provide the backdrop against which this extract has been developed.