ABSTRACT
In February 1995 NATO announced the launching of its so-called Mediterranean Initiative. A dialogue commenced with what were referred to as five “Mediterranean nonmember countries,” namely, Egypt, Israel, Mauritania, Morocco, and Tunisia. Before the end of the year another state, Jordan, was added to the dialogue. The addition of Jordan enhanced the Middle East component of NATO’s Mediterranean Initiative. NATO officials later referred to these six states as Mediterranean dialogue countries or Mediterranean dialogue partners. On strict geographical grounds, however, Jordan and Mauritania are not a part of the Mediterranean. They do not have a Mediterranean coastline.
