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The Atlantic Alliance and the Middle East

20/05/1989

Although the Middle East does not fall within the area covered by NATO, it is of great importance to the members of the Atlantic Alliance, as recent events in the Gulf clearly show. In some instances members of the Alliance may have to act, individually or collectively, to safeguard those interests, even with the employment of military forces. In this book an attempt is made to define these interests, to indicate some of the threats that may arise, to outline the most important military and political factors and, finally, to describe the institutional structures, relationships and procedures which will also affect decisions on the use of force. This book represents the first major contribution to this topical field and gives to the reader a clear idea of the implication of selected uses of force, both for the maintenance of Western interests and for the security and cohesion of the Alliance.

Product of the research project "Security Outside NATO: The Atlantic Alliance and the Middle East" conducted by the Center for International Studies University of Pittsburg and the Istituto Affari Internazionali (IAI). Chapter 4 published also in The International Spectator, Vol. 22, No. 3 (July-September 1987), p. 130-151.