1. Introduction to NATO
How does NATO work?
1
What is NATO? What does NATO do?
Specialized organizations and agencies of NATO
&
Key to the principal NATO committees and policy bodies
By: Samin& Adeola
What is NATO?
What does NATO do?
How does NATO work?NATO committees & policy bodies
Specialized organizations and agencies- Key to the principle NATO committees and policy Bodies
How does NATO work?
2. What is NATO? What does NATO do? How does NATO work?
2
How does NATO work?
1. Consensus decision-making
2. Civil and military structure
3. Delegations
4. Main bodies
5. NATO Secretary General
6. International Staff
7. International Military Staff
8. Military command structure
9. Agencies
10. Paying for NATO
Specialized organizations and agencies- Key to the principle NATO committees and policy Bodies
3. How does NATO work?
3
What is NATO? What does NATO do?
Consensus decision-making
Consensus decision-
making
Civil and military structure
Delegations
Main bodies
NATO Secretary General
International Staff
International Military Staff
Military command structure
Agencies
Paying for NATO
An inter-governmental
organization where
decisions are taken jointly
by each member country
Principle of consensus
applied at every
committee level
Specialized organizations and agencies- Key to the principle NATO committees and policy Bodies
4. How does NATO work?
4
What is NATO? What does NATO do?
Civil and military structure
Consensus decision-
making
Civil and military structure
Delegations
Main bodies
NATO Secretary General
International Staff
International Military Staff
Military command structure
Agencies
Paying for NATO
National Authorities
Permanent Representatives
(Ambassadors to NATO)
International Military Staff
Military Representatives
to NATO
Allied Command
Transformation
Allied Command
Operations
Secretary General
Committees
subordinate to the
Council and NPG
Nuclear Planning
Group (NPG)
North Atlantic
Council (NAC)
Military Committee
(MC)
International Staff
Strategic Commands
Specialized organizations and agencies- Key to the principle NATO committees and policy Bodies
5. How does NATO work?
5
What is NATO? What does NATO do?
Delegations
Consensus decision-
making
Civil and military structure
Delegations
Main bodies
NATO Secretary General
International Staff
International Military Staff
Military command structure
Agencies
Paying for NATO
A national delegation per member country at
NATO HQ, Brussels
Status of an Embassy
Headed by an Ambassador or
Permanent Representative
Specialized organizations and agencies- Key to the principle NATO committees and policy Bodies
6. How does NATO work?
6
What is NATO? What does NATO do?
Main bodies
Consensus decision-
making
Civil and military structure
Delegations
Main bodies
NATO Secretary General
International Staff
International Military Staff
Military command structure
Agencies
Paying for NATO
North Atlantic Council
Nuclear Planning Group
Military Committee
Specialized organizations and agencies- Key to the principle NATO committees and policy Bodies
7. 7
Main bodies
How does NATO work?What is NATO? What does NATO do?
Key political decision-making body
Forum to discuss policy and operational questions
Chaired by Secretary General
Meets at different levels
Established by Article 9 of Washington Treaty
Authority to set up subsidiary bodies
North Atlantic Council
Nuclear Planning
Group
Military Committee
Specialized organizations and agencies- Key to the principle NATO committees and policy Bodies
8. 8
Main bodies
How does NATO work?What is NATO? What does NATO do?
Ultimate authority with regard to nuclear policy
issues
Reviews the Alliance’s nuclear policy in the light of
changing security environment
All members except for France
Chaired by NATO Secretary General
Meets at different levels
North Atlantic Council
Nuclear Planning
Group
Military Committee
Specialized organizations and agencies- Key to the principle NATO committees and policy Bodies
9. 9
Main bodies
How does NATO work?What is NATO? What does NATO do?
Senior military advisory authority
Under authority of NAC and NPG
Provides guidance to two strategic commanders
Meets at different levels
Chairman selected by Chiefs of Staff for
three-year term
North Atlantic Counci
Nuclear Planning
Council
Military Committee
Specialized organizations and agencies- Key to the principle NATO committees and policy Bodies
10. 10
Main bodies
How does NATO work?What is NATO? What does NATO do?
NATO committees form an indispensable part of the
Alliance’s decision-making process. They provide the
framework within which member countries can
exchange information on a variety of subjects,
consult with each other and take decisions made on
the basis of consensus and common accord.
Specialized organizations and agencies- Key to the principle NATO committees and policy Bodies
Committees
11. 11
Main bodies
How does NATO work?What is NATO? What does NATO do?
The principal committees
The North Atlantic Council (NAC) is the principal political decision-making body within
NATO and the only committee that was established by the Alliance’s founding Treaty.
Under Article 9, the NAC is invested with the authority to set up "such subsidiary bodies
as may be necessary" for the purposes of implementing the Treaty. Over the years, the
Council has established a network of committees to facilitate the Alliance’s work and
deal with all subjects on its agenda.
The principal NATO committees are the NAC, the Nuclear Planning Group (NPG) and
the Military Committee. The Defence Planning Committee (DPC), which was also one of
NATO’s top decision-making bodies, was dissolved under the June 2010 committee
reform and its functions taken over by the NAC.
Committees
Specialized organizations and agencies- Key to the principle NATO committees and policy Bodies
12. 12
Main bodies
How does NATO work?What is NATO? What does NATO do?
Committees reporting to the NAC
In addition to the NAC, the NPG and the Military Committee, there are a number of
committees that report directly to the Council. Some of these are themselves supported
by working groups, especially in areas such as defence procurement.
As part of the NATO reform process initiated in June 2010, which focused on the NATO
Command Structure and NATO Agencies, NATO Committees were also reviewed. As
such, committees reporting to the NAC now include the following:
Committees
Specialized organizations and agencies- Key to the principle NATO committees and policy Bodies
13. 13
Main bodies
How does NATO work?What is NATO? What does NATO do?
• Deputies Committee
Political and Partnerships Committee
Defense Policy and Planning Committee
Committee on Proliferation
C3 Board
Operations Policy Committee
High Level Task Force on Conventional Arms Control
Verification Coordinating Committee
Conference of National Armaments Directors
Committee for Standardization
Logistics Committee
Resource Policy and Planning Board
Air and Missile Defense Committee
NATO Air Traffic Management Committee
Civil Emergency Planning Committee
Committee on Public Diplomacy
Council Operations and Exercises Committee
Security Committee
Civilian Intelligence Committee
Archives Commitee
Additionally, there are institutions of cooperation, partnership and dialogue that underpin relations
between NATO and other countries.
Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council
NATO-Russia Council
NATO-Ukraine Commission
NATO-Georgia Commission
Committees
Specialized organizations and agencies- Key to the principle NATO committees and policy Bodies
14. How does NATO work?
14
What is NATO? What does NATO do?
NATO Secretary General
Consensus decision-
making
Civil and military structure
Delegations
Main bodies
NATO Secretary General
International Staff
International Military Staff
Military command structure
Agencies
Paying for NATO
Chairman of NATO’s senior committees and
decision facilitator
Spokesperson
Head of International Staff
Specialized organizations and agencies- Key to the principle NATO committees and policy Bodies
15. How does NATO work?
15
What is NATO? What does NATO do?
International Staff
Consensus decision-
making
Civil and military structure
Delegations
Main bodies
NATO Secretary General
International Staff
International Military Staff
Military command structure
Agencies
Paying for NATO
Advisory and administrative body
Supports work of Delegations
Divided into divisions
Staffed by nationals from member countries
Specialized organizations and agencies- Key to the principle NATO committees and policy Bodies
16. How does NATO work?
16
What is NATO? What does NATO do?
International Staff
Consensus decision-
making
Civil and military structure
Delegations
Main bodies
NATO Secretary General
International Staff
International Military Staff
Military command structure
Agencies
Paying for NATO
Political Affairs
and
Security Policy
Division
Operations
Division
Public
Diplomacy
Division
Defence Policy
and Planning
Division
Defence
Investment
Division
Senior Resource
Board
Civil and Military
Budget Committees
Secretary
General
Deputy Secretary
General
International Board
of Auditors
NATO Office of
Security
Executive
Management
Division
Office of Resources
Office of
the Financial
Controller
previous
Emerging
Security
Challenges
Division
Specialized organizations and agencies- Key to the principle NATO committees and policy Bodies
17. How does NATO work?
17
What is NATO? What does NATO do?
International Military Staff
Consensus decision-
making
Civil and military structure
Delegations
Main bodies
NATO Secretary General
International Staff
International Military Staff
Military command structure
Agencies
Paying for NATO
Advisory and administrative body
Supports work of Military committee
Divided into divisions
Staffed by nationals from member countries
Specialized organizations and agencies- Key to the principle NATO committees and policy Bodies
18. How does NATO work?
18
What is NATO? What does NATO do?
International Military Staff
Consensus decision-
making
Civil and military structure
Delegations
Main bodies
NATO Secretary General
International Staff
International Military Staff
Military command structure
Agencies
Paying for NATO Intelligence
Division
Operations
Division
Plans
& Policy
Division
Cooperation
& Regional
Security
Division
Logistics
Armaments &
Resources
Division
NHQC3S*
Financial Controller
Legal Officer
Support Activities
Personnel
Public Information
Advisor
Director (DIMS)
Executive
Coordinator
SITCEN
* The NATO HQ Consultation, Command & Control (C3) Staffprevious
Specialized organizations and agencies- Key to the principle NATO committees and policy Bodies
19. How does NATO work?
19
What is NATO? What does NATO do?
Military command structure
Consensus decision-
making
Civil and military structure
Delegations
Main bodies
NATO Secretary General
International Staff
International Military Staff
Military command structure
Agencies
Paying for NATO
Allied Command Operations (ACO)
NATO operations
Allied Command Transformation (ACT)
Alliance transformation
Specialized organizations and agencies- Key to the principle NATO committees and policy Bodies
20. How does NATO work?
20
What is NATO? What does NATO do?
Military Command Structure
Consensus decision-
making
Civil and military structure
Delegations
Main bodies
NATO Secretary General
International Staff
International Military Staff
Military command structure
Agencies
Paying for NATO
previous
Specialized organizations and agencies- Key to the principle NATO committees and policy Bodies
21. How does NATO work?
21
What is NATO? What does NATO do?
Military Command Structure
Consensus decision-
making
Civil and military structure
Delegations
Main bodies
NATO Secretary General
International Staff
International Military Staff
Military command structure
Agencies
Paying for NATO
previous
Specialized organizations and agencies- Key to the principle NATO committees and policy Bodies
22. How does NATO work?
22
What is NATO? What does NATO do?
Agencies
Consensus decision-
making
Civil and military structure
Delegations
Main bodies
NATO Secretary General
International Staff
International Military Staff
Military command structure
Agencies
Paying for NATO
Production and logistics
Standardization
Communications
Research
Other agencies and organizations
Project offices
Specialized organizations and agencies- Key to the principle NATO committees and policy Bodies
23. How does NATO work?
23
What is NATO? What does NATO do?
NATO Support Agency (NSPA)
The NATO Support Agency (NSPA) is NATO’s integrated logistics and services provider
Agency. The NSPA is a fully customer-funded agency, operating on a “no profit - no loss”
basis. It brings together NATO’s logistics and procurement support activities in a single
organization, providing integrated multinational support solutions for its stakeholders.
Specialized organizations and agencies- Key to the principle NATO committees and policy Bodies
Support
Communications and
information
Science and
Technology (S&T)
NATO
Standardization
Agency (NSA)
Program Offices
Civil Emergency
Planning
24. How does NATO work?
24
What is NATO? What does NATO do?
The NATO Communications and Information Agency
(NCI Agency)
The NATO Communications and Information Agency – or NCI
Agency – acts as NATO’s principal Consultation, Command
and Control (C3) deliverer and Communications and
Information Systems (CIS) provider. It also provides IT-
support to NATO Headquarters, the NATO Command
Structure and NATO Agencies.
Support
Communications and
information
Science and
Technology (S&T)
NATO
Standardization
Agency (NSA)
Program Offices
Civil Emergency
Planning
Specialized organizations and agencies- Key to the principle NATO committees and policy Bodies
25. How does NATO work?
25
What is NATO? What does NATO do?
The NATO Science and Technology Organization (STO)
The NATO Science and Technology Organization
(STO) acts as NATO’s principal organization for
science and technology research.
It is composed of a Science and Technology Board (STB),
Scientific and Technical Committees and three Executive
Bodies; the Office of the Chief Scientist (OCS), the
Collaboration Support Office (CSO), and the Centre for
Maritime Research and Experimentation (CMRE).
Specialized organizations and agencies- Key to the principle NATO committees and policy Bodies
Support
Communications and
information
Science and Technology
(S&T)
NATO
Standardization
Agency (NSA)
Program Offices
Civil Emergency
Planning
26. How does NATO work?
26
What is NATO? What does NATO do?
NATO Standardisation Agency (NSA)
Specialized organizations and agencies- Key to the principle NATO committees and policy Bodies
Support
Communications and
information
Science and Technology
(S&T)
NATO Standardization
Agency (NSA)
Program Offices
Civil Emergency
Planning
27. How does NATO work?
27
What is NATO? What does NATO do?
The NATO Airborne Early Warning and Control Program
Management Organization (NAPMO)
Specialized organizations and agencies- Key to the principle NATO committees and policy Bodies
Air Traffic Management,
Air Defence
Airborne Early Warning
Electronic Warfare
Meteorology
Education and Training
NATO accredited Centres of
Excellence
Project Steering
Committees/Project
Offices
NATO'S EYE IN THE SKY
The NATO Airborne Early Warning &
Control (NAEW&C) Program is often
cited as one of the most successful
collaborative ventures ever undertaken
by the Alliance. The fleet of 17 E-3A
aircraft represents the world’s first
multi-national, fully integrated Air Force
and is one of the few military assets
that is actually owned and operated by
NATO.
28. How does NATO work?
28
What is NATO? What does NATO do?
Paying for NATO
Consensus decision-
making
Civil and military structure
Delegations
Main bodies
NATO Secretary General
International Staff
International Military Staff
Military command structure
Agencies
Paying for NATO
Indirect contributions
Direct contributions - principle of common funding
Civil budget
Military budget
NATO’s Security Investment Programme
29. 29
Paying for NATO
How does NATO work?What is NATO? What does NATO do?
Operating costs of the International Staff
Civilian programmes
Running costs of HQ facilities
Conference services
Meetings of NATO committees
Security services
Civil budget
Military budget
NATO’s Security
Investments
Programme
30. 30
Paying for NATO
How does NATO work?What is NATO? What does NATO do?
Operating and maintenance costs of the
international military structure
Military Committee
International Military Staff
Agencies
Two strategic commands and associated command,
control and information systems
Research and development agencies
NATO Airborne Early Warning and Control Force
Operating costs of NATO peacekeeping command
structures
Civil budget
Military budget
NATO’s Security
Investments
Programme
31. 31
Paying for NATO
How does NATO work?What is NATO? What does NATO do?
Major construction and system Investments that
exceed national defence requirements of individual
member countries
Communications and information systems
Radar
Military HQ
Airfields
Fuel pipelines and storage
Harbours
Civil budget
Military budget
NATO’s Security
Investments
Programme