The Mediterranean Dialogue

This chapter looks at the Mediterranean Dialogue (MD) established by NATO in 1994 with seven countries in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). It analyses the MD’s origins and rationale in the context of outreach by the allies towards the MENA region. The chapter also considers a number of structural constraints the Alliance faces in its approach to MD, mostly but not only due to the national security interests of the major allies (many of whom do not regard the MENA region as a priority). The states of the MD themselves, meanwhile, are not a coherent group and this too impedes partnerships and the progress of multilateral cooperation. The twin pillars of the MD—political dialogue and practical cooperation—are considered in this light. The chapter concludes that the MD offers only a limited contribution to regional stability and security.