The UK believes that NATO’s Mediterranean Dialogue is an important part of the Alliance’s co-operative approach to regional security, based on the recognition that security in the Euro-Atlantic area is closely linked to security and stability in the Mediterranean region. Launched in 1994, NATO’s Mediterranean Dialogue has contributed to better mutual understanding amongst, and has helped build confidence and co-operation between, NATO and its seven Mediterranean partners: Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Mauritania, Morocco and Tunisia.

 

The UK strongly supports the decision by NATO Heads of State and Government at the Istanbul Summit in June 2004 for a more ambitious and expanded framework for the Mediterranean Dialogue. The first concrete result of this was a meeting at Foreign Ministerial level in Brussels in December 2004, the first ever meeting at Ministerial level between NATO and Mediterranean countries, reflecting the mutual wish to enhance the political and practical dimensions of the Dialogue.  This was followed up by a second successful meeting of Foreign Ministers in December 2007. 

 

We are working with Allies and Mediterranean Dialogue partners to allow NATO to offer a menu of practical defence reform activities, and working towards tailored individual co-operation plans that will meet the specific practical and political needs of each of the Mediterranean Dialogue countries.

 

Mediterranean Dialogue Chiefs of Defence Staffs have also now developed a cycle of meetings with Allies that are appreciated by both sides and have helped build confidence between the respective participants.

 

On 10 February 2006, at Taormina, Italy, John Reid, then UK Secretary of State for Defence, attended the first meeting of Allied and Mediterranean Dialogue Defence Ministers, further demonstrating the UK's continuing support for the Dialogue. 

 

The UK's bilateral defence co-operation programmes with the countries in the region, run by the Ministry of Defence, also contribute to the aims of the Mediterranean Dialogue.

 

The Training Co-operation Initiative launched at the Riga Summit in 2006 will make an important contribution to the further development of the Mediterranean Dialogue and Istanbul Co-operation Initiative through sharing training expertise and jointly participating in training and education programmes.