T NORTH ATLANTIC TREATY ORGANISATION NATO HANDBOOK NA TO HA NDBOOK 1992 NATO OFFICE OF INFORMATION AND PR ESS BRUSSELS EDITOR’S NOTE The transformation of the security environment in uErope since 1989 has had a profound impact on the North Atlantic Alliance. In addition to major reductions in the levels of armed forces and in aspects of their readiness, availability and deployment, it has led to a number of new or much expanded tasks for the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation. These include establishing a process of dialogue and cooperation with the states of Central and Eastern Europe and the newly independent states on the territory of the former Soviet Union; developing a close working relationship with other institutions, notably the CSCE and the WEU; and introducing new command and force structures which reflect the changed strategic environment. In the follow-up to the July 1990 London Declaration on a Transformed North Atlantic Alliance and the publication of the Alliance’s new Strategic Con­ cept, a number of studies were set in hand to consider the future structure and organisation of the Alliance in the light of decreasing defence resources and major strategic change. Some of these studies have led to recommend­ ations on which final decisions have still to be made. Others have not yet reached a conclusion. However in a number of areas important changes affecting the organis­ ation and functioning of the Alliance have already been implemented. To the extent possible such changes are reflected in this volume. The NATO Handbook is not a formally agreed NATO document and does not therefore necessarily represent the official opinion or position of individual member governments on all policy issues discussed. ISBN 92-845-9966-4 NORTH ATLANTIC TREATY ORGANISA TION cNATO) The North Atlantic Treaty, signed in Washington on 4 April 1949, created an Alliance for collective defence as defined in Article 51 of the United Nations Charter. The Alliance links of urteen European countries with the United States and Canada. MEMBER COUNTRIES Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Turkey, United Kingdom and United States. The NATO Emblem was adopted as the symbol of the Atlantic Alliance by the North Atlantic Council in Octo­ ber 1953. The circle is the symbol of unity and cooper­ ation and the compass rose suggests the common road to peace taken by the 16 member countries of the Atlantic Alliance. The blue background represents the Atlantic Ocean. TABLE OF CONTENTS page What is NATO? 11 The Fundamental Tasks of the Alliance 12 Origins of the Alliance 14 NATO Today 15 PART I - HOW NATO WORKS Machinery of Cooperation 23 Fundamental Operating Principles 29 Joint Decision-Making 29 Political C onsultation 31 Crisis Management 34 The Defence Dimension 34 Consultations on Nuclear Issues 37 Economic Cooperation 38 Public Information 40 The Common Infrastructure Programme 42 Logistic Support 43 Armaments Cooperation 44 Armaments Planning 45 Standardization 46 Communications and Information Systems 47 Air Defence 47 Civil Emergency Planning 49 Civil and Military Coordination of Air Traffic Management 50 Scientific Cooperation and Environmental Challenges 51 PART II - THE FUTURE ROLE OF THE ALLIANCE An E ra of Political Change 57 The New Security Architecture 64 A Broad Approach to Security 65 The Alliance’s Strategic Concept 66 Dialogue, Partnership and Cooperation 68 The Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe 71 Europe’s Security Identity and DefenceR ole 72 Arms Control 73 7 PART III - ORGANISATION AND STRUCTURES NATO Headquarters 83 PermanentR epresentatives and National Delegations 83 The International Staff 83 The Secretary General 84 Office of the Secretary General 84 Executive Secretariat 86 Office oflnform ation and Press 86 NATO Office of Security 88 Division of Political Affairs 89 Political Affairs Directorate 89 Economics Directorate 89 Division of Defence Planning and Policy 90 Directorate of Force Planning and Policy 90 Nuclear Planning Directorate 90 Division of Defence Support 91 Directorate of Armaments and Defence Research 91 Directorate of Command Control and Communications 91 Directorate of Air Defence Systems 92 Directorate of Cooperation, Planning and Standardization 92 Division of Infrastructure, Logistics and Civil Emergency Planning 92 Infrastructure Directorate 93 Logistics Directorate 93 Civil Emergency Planning Directorate 94 Scientific Affairs Division 95 Office of Management 95 Office of the Financial Controller 96 Office of the Chairman of the Budget Committees 96 International Board of Auditors 96 Production and Logistics Organisations 97 National Military Representatives 98 The Military Committee 98 International Military Staff 101 Organisation of the International Military Staff 102 The Role of Allied Military Forces 103 The Integrated Military Command Structure 105 Allied Command Europe (AC E ) 106 The Supreme Allied Commander, Europe (SACEUR) 106 Allied Command Atlantic (ACLANT) 108 8 The Supreme Allied C ommander, Atlantic (SACLANT) 108 Allied Command Channel (ACCH AN) 109 The Commander-in-Chief Channel (CINCHAN) 109 Canada-United States Regional Planning Group 110 Forces A v ailable to NAT O 110 ACE Mobile Force (AMF) 111 Standing Naval Forces 112 Reserve Forces 113 Military Agencies and Organisations 113 Advisory Group for Aerospace Research and Development (AGAR D ) 113 Military Agencyo fr Standardization (MAS) 114 NATO Electronic Warfare Advisory Committee (NEWAC) 114 EURO/NATO Training Group 115 Military Committee Meteorological Group (MCMG) 115 Military Telecommunications and CIS Agencies 115 SHAPE Technical Centre 116 SACLANT Undersea Research Centre 116 NATO Defense College 117 PART IV - INTER LOCKING INSTITUTIONS The Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE) 121 The European Community (EC) 123 The Western European Union (WEU) 126 The Council of Europe 129 PART V - OTHER INTERGOVERNMENTAL AND NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANISATIONS North Atlantic Assembly (NAA) 133 Atlantic Treaty Association (ATA) 135 Interallied Confederation of Reserve Officers (CIOR) 137 The Eurogroup 139 Independent European Programme Group (IEPG) 140 9 APPENDICES APPENDIX I THE NO RTH ATLANTIC TREATY 143 APPENDIX II THE ALLIANCE’S STRATEGIC CONCEPT 147 APPENDIX III MEMBERS OF THE NORTH ATLANTIC COUNCIL 161 APPENDIX IV MEMBERS OF THE MILITARY COMMITTEE 163 APPENDIX V MAJOR NATO COMMANDERS 165 APPENDIX VI PRINCIPAL OFFICIALS OF THE INTERNATIONAL STAFF 167 APPENDIX VII PRINCIPAL OFFICIALS OF THE INTERNATIONAL MILITARY STAFF 169 APPENDIX VIII PRINCIPAL NATO AGENCIES 171 APPENDIX IX ABBREVIATIONS IN COMMON USE 173 APPENDIX X CHRONOLOGY 177 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS NATO’s Civil and Military Structure 20 Principal Committees of the Council 32 NATO International Staff 85 Divisions of the International Staff 87 NATO Military Structure 99 NATO International Military Staff 99 10 WHAT IS NATO? The North Atlantic Treaty of April 1949 brought into being an Alliance of independent countries with a common interest in maintaining peace and defending their freedom through political solidarity and adequate military defence to deter and, if necessary, repel all poss­ ible forms of aggression against them. Created within the framework of Article 51 of the United Nations Charter, which reaffirms the inherent right of individual or collec­ tive defence, the Alliance is an association of free states united in their determination to preserve their security through mutual guarantees and stable relations with other countries. NATO is the Organisation which serves the Alliance. It is an inter-governmental organisation in which member countries retain their full sovereignty and independence. The Organisation provides the forum in which they con­ sult together on any issues they may choose to raise and take decisions on political and military matters affecting their security. It provides the structures needed to facili­ tate consultation and cooperation between them, not only in political fields but also in many other areas where policies can be coordinated in order to fulfil the goals of the North Atlantic Treaty. NATO’s essential purpose is thus to safeguard the free­ dom and security of all its members by political and military means in accordance with the principles of the United Nations Charter. Based on common values of democracy, human rights and the rule of law, the Alliance has worked since its inception for the establishment of a just and lasting peaceful order in Europe. This Alliance objective remains unchanged. NATO also embodies the transatlantic link by which the security of North America is permanently tied to the security of Europe. It is the practical expression of effective collective effort among its members in support of their common interests. The fundamental operating principle of the Alliance is that of common commitment and mutual cooperation 11 among sovereign states based on the indivisibility of the security of its members. Solidarity within the Alliance, given substance and effect by N A TO ’s daily work in politi­ cal, military and other spheres, ensures that no member country is forced to rely upon its own national efforts alone in dealing with basic security challenges. Without depriving member states of their right and duty to assume their sovereign responsibilities in the field of defence, the Alliance enables them through collective effort to enhance their ability to realise their essential national security objectives.