What is its authority, tasks and responsibilities
The Committee’s principal role is to provide direction and advice on military policy and strategy. It is responsible for recommending to NATO's political authorities those measures considered necessary for the common defence of the NATO area and for the implementation of decisions regarding NATO’s operations and missions.
The Military Committee’s advice is sought as a matter of course prior to authorisation by the North Atlantic Council – the Alliance’s principal decision-making body - or Defence Planning Committee of NATO military activities or operations.
It thus represents an essential link between the political decision-making process and the military structure of NATO and is an integral part of the decision-making process of the Alliance.
Strategic direction
The Military Committee also plays a key role in the development of NATO’s military policy and doctrine within the framework of discussions in the Council, the Defence Planning Committee, the Nuclear Planning Group and other senior bodies. It is responsible for providing military guidance to NATO’s two Strategic Commanders – Supreme Allied Commander Operations and Supreme Allied Commander Transformation.
In this context, the Committee assists in developing overall strategic concepts for the Alliance and prepares an annual long-term assessment of the strength and capabilities of countries and areas posing a risk to NATO's interests.
In times of crises, tension or war, and in relation to military operations undertaken by the Alliance such as its role in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo and Afghanistan, its role is to advise the Council or Defence Planning Committee of the military situation and its implications, and to make recommendations on the use of military force, the implementation of contingency plans and the development of appropriate rules of engagement.
It is also responsible for the efficient operation of agencies subordinate to the Military Committee.
Who participates?
The Military Committee is made up of senior military officers from the NATO member countries who serve as their country’s Military Representatives to NATO, representing their Chief of Defence.
The Military Representatives work in a national capacity, representing the interests of their countries while remaining open to negotiation and discussion so that a NATO consensus can be reached.
A civilian official represents Iceland, which has no military forces.
How does it work in practice?
The Committee meets normally every Thursday, following the regular Wednesday meeting of the North Atlantic Council, so that it can follow up promptly on Council decisions.
In practice, meetings are convened whenever necessary and both the Council and the Military Committee normally meet much more frequently. As a result of the Alliance's role in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo and Afghanistan, and its supporting role in relation to Iraq, the need for the Council and Military Committee to meet more frequently to discuss operational matters has greatly increased.
High-level meetings
Like the political decision-making bodies, it also meets regularly at a higher level, namely at the level of Chiefs of Defence (CHODs).
Meetings at this level are normally held three times a year. Two of these meetings occur in Brussels and one is hosted by NATO countries, on a rotational basis.
Cooperation with partners
In the framework of the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council and Partnership for Peace, the Military Committee meets regularly with partner countries at the level of national Military Representatives (once a month) and at the level of Chiefs of Defence (twice a year) to deal with military cooperation issues. The Military Committee also meets in different formats in the framework of the NATO- Russia Council and the NATO-Ukraine Commission, and with the CHODs of the seven Mediterranean Dialogue countries.