 European militaries in between the fifteenth century and the modern period were able to conquer or subjugate almost every other nation in the world.Since the end of the Cold War, the European security environment has been characterized by structural dominance of the United States through its NATO commitments to the defense of Europe, as European states have sought to reap the 'peace dividend' occasioned by the end of the Cold War and reduce defense expenditures.European militaries now mostly undertake power projection missions outside the European continent.