NATO’s maritime considerations vis-a-vis MENA

EasyChair Preprint 5977, version 1

Abstract

The MENA coast and landward from it have always been a central focus of NATO. NATO is a regional security alliance formed in 1949 where the Atlantic Ocean, north of the Tropic of Cancer, and the Mediterranean Sea are part of its region (in-area). Africa and so the Mediterranean Sea is the southern border of NATO in Europe. And the Middle East and so the Mediterranean is it’s Eastern maritime border. Some NATO member states share the Mediterranean as a maritime border with North African And Middle East states. Their economies through trade depends on secure sea routes and shipping security in the Mediterranean and onward through the Straights of Gibraltar and the Suez Canal. Where necessary NATO has also conducted military operations out of area to protect shipping off Africa’s coasts for example the Indian Ocean off the Arabian Peninsular and the Horn of Africa and also landward, for example in Sudan, Somalia, and Libya. NATO assistance and military involvement is in two focuses 1) the NATO Mediterranean Dialogue and 2) support for the African Union. There are also specific operations for immediate security needs for example to support United Nations Resolutions in 2011 on Libya. Dr. Glen Segell, Research Fellow, Department of Political Studies and Governance, University of the Free State, South Africa glen.segell@outlook.com

Keyphrases: Arabian Peninsula, Indian Ocean, Iran, Landward security, Maritime Security, Mediterranean Sea, Middle East, NATO, North Africa

@booklet{EasyChair:5977,
  author    = {Glen Segell},
  title     = {NATO’s maritime considerations vis-a-vis MENA},
  howpublished = {EasyChair Preprint 5977},
  year      = {EasyChair, 2021}}