During the summit, NATO leaders decided to elevate[clarification needed] the Alliance's Mediterranean Dialogue to a genuine partnership and to launch the ICI with selected countries in West Asia.
[1] The initiative is an offer to engage in practical security cooperation activities with states throughout West Asia.
[2] This new initiative stands alongside NATO's Partnership for Peace Program and the Mediterranean Dialogue.
NATO itself regards these security cooperation partnerships as a response to the new challenges of the 21st century and as a complement to the G8 and U.S.-EU decisions to support calls for reform from within West Asia region.
The ICI offers practical cooperation with interested nations in West Asia in such areas as: