The Mediterranean Dialogue, first launched in 1994, is a forum of cooperation between

NATO The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO ; , OTAN), also called the North Atlantic Alliance, is an intergovernmental organization, intergovernmental Transnationalism, transnational military alliance of 32 Member states of NATO, member s ...

and seven countries of the

Mediterranean The Mediterranean Sea ( ) is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by the Mediterranean basin and almost completely enclosed by land: on the east by the Levant in West Asia, on the north by Anatolia in West Asia and Southern ...

. Its stated aim is "to create good relations and better mutual understanding and confidence throughout the region, promoting regional security and stability and explaining NATO's policies and goals." The Dialogue reflects NATO's view that security in Europe is tied to the security and stability in the Mediterranean. It also reinforces and complements the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership and the

Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) is a regional security-oriented intergovernmental organization comprising member states in Europe, North America, and Asia. Its mandate includes issues such as arms control, the p ...

's Mediterranean Initiative.

Members

The Mediterranean Dialogue initially started with five countries but has added two more over time.

Initial members

* (joined in February 1995) * (joined in February 1995) * (joined in February 1995) * (joined in February 1995) * (joined in February 1995)

Subsequent members

* (joined in November 1995) * (joined in March 2000)

Potential expansion

In the 2012 Chicago Summit, NATO heads of states issued a declaration, citing

Libya Libya, officially the State of Libya, is a country in the Maghreb region of North Africa. It borders the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to Egypt–Libya border, the east, Sudan to Libya–Sudan border, the southeast, Chad to Chad–L ...

was "welcome" as a NATO partner "if it so wishes", through Mediterranean Dialogue. Libya has yet to respond.

Individual Cooperation Programme (ICP)

On October 16, 2006, NATO and Israel finalized the first-ever Individual Cooperation Programme (ICP) under the enhanced Mediterranean Dialogue, where Israel will be contributing to the NATO maritime Operation Active Endeavour. The ICP covers many areas of common interest, such as the fight against terrorism and joint military exercises in the

Mediterranean Sea The Mediterranean Sea ( ) is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by the Mediterranean basin and almost completely enclosed by land: on the east by the Levant in West Asia, on the north by Anatolia in West Asia and Southern Eur ...

.Israel moves closer to NATO missions
/ref> More ICP agreements were signed with Egypt (2007) and Jordan (2009), and NATO expects further agreements to be signed with additional Mediterranean Dialogue member states in the future.

References

External links

Mediterranean Dialogue website
{{NATO relations Politics of NATO Mediterranean 1994 in international relations