NATO Headquarters
The NATO Headquarters, in Brussels, Belgium, is the political headquarters of the Alliance and the permanent home of the North Atlantic Council, NATO's senior political decision-making body.
Opinion
- Summer 2007 - NATO Review
The big move by François Le Blévennec - Sept. 1997 - NATO Review
NATO's Headquarters celebrates 30 years in Belgium by Erik Derycke
Eng.
/ Fr.
The Headquarters is located at Boulevard Leopold III, 1110 Brussels, on the northeast perimeter of the city. It is home to national delegations of member countries and to liaison offices or diplomatic missions of partner countries. The work of these delegations and missions is supported by NATO’s International Staff and International Military Staff, which are also located within the Headquarters.
What is its role?
The NATO Headquarters provides a site where representatives from both the civilian and military side of all the member states can come together in order to make political decisions on a consensus basis. It also offers a venue for dialogue and cooperation between partner countries and NATO member states, so that they can work together in their effort to bring about peace and stability.
Who participates?
There are approximately 4,000 people working at NATO Headquarters on a full-time basis. Of these, some 2,000 are members of national delegations and staffs of national military representatives to NATO. There are also about 300 members of missions of NATO's partners countries. There are approximately 1,200 civilian members of the International Staff or agencies located within the Headquarters and about 500 members of the International Military Staff, including 100 civilians.
How does it work in practice?
Meetings at NATO Headquarters take place throughout the year, creating a setting for dialogue and cooperation amongst member countries. There are more than 5,000 meetings every year amongst NATO bodies.
More...How did it evolve?
NATO's first Headquarters was in London at 13 Belgrave Square in 1949. As NATO's structure continued to develop and more space was needed, a site was chosen in centrally located Paris, and on 16 April 1952, a temporary Headquarters was established at Palais de Chaillot. In 1960, NATO moved to a more permanent Headquarters in Porte Dauphine in Paris. Shortly thereafter, in 1966, France decided to withdraw from NATO's military structure. This decision called for another move, this time to buildings on the northeast perimeter of Brussels. The new Headquarters was established in 1967.
More...What do I need to remember?
- The NATO Headquarters is located in Brussels, Belgium
- The staff at the Headquarters is composed of national delegations of member countries and liaison offices or diplomatic missions of partner countries, as well as the International Staff and International Military Staff.
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