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The Nuclear Planning Group (NPG) takes decisions on the Alliance's nuclear policy, which is kept under constant review and modified or adapted in the light of new developments.
Since the end of the Cold War the Alliance has been able to greatly reduce its reliance on nuclear forces. While they are maintained as part of the Alliance's policy of deterrence, their role is fundamentally political and they are no longer directed towards a specific threat.
The Nuclear Planning Group is the ultimate authority within NATO with regard to nuclear policy issues, as are the North Atlantic Council or the Defence Planning Committee on matters within their competence. Its discussions cover a broad range of nuclear policy matters, including the safety, security and survivability of nuclear weapons, communications and information systems, as well as deployment issues. It also covers wider questions of common concern such as nuclear arms control and nuclear proliferation.
The role of the Nuclear Planning Group is to review the Alliance's nuclear policy in the light of the ever-changing security challenges of the international environment and to adapt it if necessary. It provides a forum in which member countries of the Alliance can participate in the development of the Alliance's nuclear policy and in decisions on NATO's nuclear posture, irrespective of whether or not they themselves maintain nuclear weapons. The policies that are agreed upon therefore represent the common position of all the participating countries. Decisions are taken by consensus within the NPG, as is the case for all NATO committees.
Members participating in NATO's integrated military structure (all member countries except France) are part of the NPG. It is chaired by the Secretary General of NATO.
The work of the Nuclear Planning Group is prepared by an NPG Staff Group composed of members of the national delegations of all participating member countries. The Staff Group prepares meetings of the NPG Permanent Representatives and carries out detailed work on their behalf. It meets once a week and at other times as necessary.
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