NATO's Mediterranean Dialogue and Arab States, Themes, Dimensions and Challenges

Abstract

This paper is an attempt to identify and understand the future relationship between the NATO's Mediterranean policy and the Arab World. It tries to examine the themes, dimensions and the leading obstacles and challenges that influence the relationship between the two sides, and how this relationship affects security and political stability in the region. The main themes of this paper are:NATO's Mediterranean Dialogue: What and Why? NATO's Mediterranean Dialogue: Structure and Mechanisms .Why the Initiative: Importance, Purposes and Fears? How Did the Concerned Arab States Receive NATO's Initiative and How Did their Positions in This Regard Change? Where do NATO Members Stand Regarding NATO's Mediterranean Dialogue? NATO and the Iraqi Crisis. Finally, The Mediterranean Dialogue: Challenges and Obstacles. The scope of the study starts from the beginning of the NATO's Mediterranean Initiative in the mid of 1990s to the first decade of the 21 century .