The British made strong representations within NATO in discussions regarding the development of the Mediterranean NATO command structure, wishing to retain their direction of NATO naval command in the Mediterranean to protect their sea lines of communication running through the Mediterranean to the Middle East and Far East.

[2] Finally decided were:[3] It was estimated however, that the expense involved in discharging the international functions of any one of these "headquarters will be small and that the cost of introducing and administering international financing would be relatively high and uneconomical.

Furthermore, at these command levels, national and NATO planning are closely associated and intermixed.

This financial arrangement should be without prejudice to decisions as to future financing if these Allied Area Headquarters are significantly expanded."

In 1967, the UK relinquished the NATO post of Commander in Chief Allied Forces Mediterranean, which was disbanded.