Briefing Paper

NATO’s Mediterranean Dialogue: What are New Possible Approaches?

NATO’s Mediterranean Dialogue (MD) is a forum for cooperation launched in 1994 for non-NATO members from Mediterranean countries. Currently, it involves Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Morocco, Mauritania and Tunisia. By enhancing the level of partnership, the 2004 Istanbul Heads of State NATO Summit gave new impetus to the dialogue. Since then, many observers noted its difficulty to position itself among other political initiatives that are multiplying in the Mediterranean. The paper argued that despite the imperfections of the MD, it is still an evolving process; like any institutional process, this dialogue is a process following phases and steps with achievements, inconsistencies and limitations that require a common reflection and debate on effective responses to correct defects and improve
cooperation. This article was written within this perspective and attempts to contextualize the MD according to its variable geometry. Indeed, the cooperation equation within the MD framework takes into account four dynamics that combine and reinforce each other, thereby producing a situation that necessitates the relaunch of the partnership framework on new foundations: Priority given to reconceptualizing the partnership; Utility of redefining risks and threats; The need to objectify interoperability; The need for a pooling of efforts for crisis management.