North Atlantic Council facts for kids
Quick facts for kids North Atlantic Council |
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| History | |
| Founded | April 4, 1949 |
| Leadership | |
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Deputy Secretary-General
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| Seats | |
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| NATO Headquarters Brussels, Belgium |
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The North Atlantic Council (NAC) is the main group that makes important decisions for NATO. NATO stands for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. The NAC is made up of special representatives from each country that is a member of NATO.
This group was created by a rule called Article 9 in the North Atlantic Treaty. It is the only part of NATO that gets its power directly from this important treaty. This means it has a very special role in how NATO works.
Contents
What is the North Atlantic Council?
The NAC is like the main steering wheel of NATO. It is where all the member countries come together to talk about important issues. These issues include security, defense, and how to keep peace. Every decision made by the NAC is agreed upon by all member countries. This means everyone has to say "yes" for a decision to pass.
Who are the Members?
Each of the 29 countries in NATO sends a "Permanent Representative" to the NAC. Think of these representatives as ambassadors. They speak for their country. They meet regularly to discuss current events and future plans for NATO.
- Albania
- Belgium
- Bulgaria
- Canada
- Croatia
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Estonia
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Italy
- Latvia
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Montenegro
- Netherlands
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- Romania
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Turkey
- United Kingdom
- United States
When and Where Do They Meet?
The NAC meets often at the NATO Headquarters in Brussels, Belgium. The Permanent Representatives meet at least once a week. Sometimes, higher-level officials, like foreign ministers or defense ministers, also meet as part of the NAC. Even the leaders of the countries (like presidents or prime ministers) meet in the NAC for big summits.
What Does the NAC Do?
The main job of the NAC is to make sure NATO's goals are met. These goals include protecting the freedom and security of its members. They discuss many topics, such as:
- Political issues: Talking about world events and how they affect NATO countries.
- Military plans: Deciding how NATO's military forces should work together.
- Operations: Planning and overseeing NATO missions, like peacekeeping efforts.
- Partnerships: Working with countries that are not NATO members.
How Decisions Are Made
All decisions in the NAC are made by "consensus." This means that every single member country must agree. No country can be forced to accept a decision it does not support. This makes sure that all members have an equal say and feel heard.
History of the NAC
The North Atlantic Council was created on April 4, 1949. This was the same day the North Atlantic Treaty was signed. From the very beginning, it was designed to be the central place for political talks and decisions within NATO. It has been active ever since, helping NATO adapt to changes in the world.
Images for kids
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NATO ministers meeting at the headquarters in Brussels in 2010.
