NATO Secretary General

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The NATO Secretary General is the alliance’s top civilian official, responsible for providing political leadership, chairing key decision-making bodies, and representing NATO on the international stage.


Statements (46)
Predicate Object
instanceOf leadership position
political office
position within NATO
appointedBy North Atlantic Council
governments of NATO member states
associatedWith NATO summit meetings
North Atlantic Treaty
basedIn Brussels, Belgium
country no specific country (international position)
distinctionFrom Supreme Allied Commander Europe
national ministers of defence
firstHolder Hastings Ismay
hasJurisdiction NATO as an international organization
inception 1952
languageRequirement usually fluent in English and French
officeHolderType civilian
officeType non-military leadership
partOf North Atlantic Treaty Organization
reportsTo NATO member governments collectively
North Atlantic Council
residence Brussels
role advises NATO member governments on security issues
chairs the Defence Planning Committee (when active)
chairs the North Atlantic Council
chairs the Nuclear Planning Group
coordinates NATO’s political and diplomatic activities
engages in public diplomacy for NATO
facilitates consensus-building among member states
helps prepare NATO summits
implements decisions taken by NATO member states
oversees the work of the International Staff at NATO Headquarters
provides political leadership for NATO
represents NATO in relations with international organizations
represents NATO in relations with non-member countries
represents NATO on the international stage
spokesperson for NATO
top civilian official of NATO
seat NATO Headquarters, Brussels, Belgium
selectionMethod consensus among NATO member states
supervises NATO Assistant Secretaries General
NATO International Staff
symbol NATO flag
termLength typically four years
termRenewable yes
titleStyle Secretary General of NATO
typicalBackground former senior politician or diplomat from a NATO member state


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