This book describes for the benefits of maintaining United States Naval Forward Presence in the Mediterranean. It encompasses several themes to justify its point of view. It argues that the Mediterranean has been important to the United States for over 200 years. It describes the significant United States political and economic interests in the region. As NATO's strongest member, the United States has a vested interest to ensure that the Mediterranean remains open and accessible. Geographically the "Middle Sea" is an essential link between the Atlantic, the Persian Gulf and beyond. It forms a bridge across which three continents interact. But the Mediterranean's geographic configuration and complex political environment also makes it an operational challenge. Finally, the complexities and acrimony of Mediterranean politics calls for the United States Navy to support a variety of missions from "stability and support" to "Small-Scale Contingencies" (SSCs) or potentially more conventional operations. However, the political, economic and geographic characteristics of the Mediterranean make it very difficult for military forces to operate there.