The **North Atlantic Council (NAC)** is the principal political decision-making body of the **North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)**, the transatlantic security alliance formed in 1949 to ensure collective defense among its member states. The NAC consists of permanent representatives (ambassadors) from each of NATO’s 32 member countries and meets regularly—typically twice a week—to discuss and coordinate policies on defense, security, and political matters affecting the alliance[2][3]. Established by Article 9 of the North Atlantic Treaty, the NAC holds the unique authority within NATO to make decisions by consensus, meaning all member states must agree unanimously. It can convene at different levels, including permanent representatives, foreign ministers, defense ministers, or heads of government, with the same decision-making powers regardless of the formation. The NAC also has the power to create subsidiary bodies to support NATO’s various policy and operational functions[2][5]. Throughout its history, the NAC has played a critical role in shaping NATO’s strategic direction, including adapting to evolving security threats from the Cold War Soviet challenge to modern concerns like cyber attacks, terrorism, and global peacekeeping missions. It has overseen NATO’s expansion from the original 12 members to 32 and guided the alliance’s response to geopolitical crises, such as NATO’s military operations in Afghanistan under the UN-mandated International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), peacekeeping in the Balkans, and responses to Russian aggression in Ukraine[1][5]. The NAC is chaired by NATO’s Secretary General, who acts as the alliance’s civilian leader and facilitator of consensus. As of October 2024, former Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte holds this role. The Council’s decisions influence both military posture and political declarations, maintaining NATO as the cornerstone of transatlantic security and cooperation. With ongoing challenges, including reform discussions and strategic adaptations to new global threats, the NAC remains central to NATO’s mission of safeguarding freedo