Committee on Proliferation (CP)
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The Committee on Proliferation (CP) is the senior advisory body to the North Atlantic Council on proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and their associated delivery systems and chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) defence. The CP is responsible for information-sharing, policy development and coordination on the issues of prevention of and response to proliferation, bringing together experts and officials with responsibilities in this field.
The CP was created following the June 2010 committee reform, replacing the Senior Politico-Military Group on Proliferation, the Senior Defence Group on Proliferation and the Joint Committee on Proliferation.
The CP meets in two formats - politico-military and defence – both under the chairpersonship of the Assistant Secretary General for Political Affairs and Security Policy (PASP) of NATO’s International Staff. The Committee addresses the threats and challenges stemming from WMD proliferation, as well as the international diplomatic responses to them. In its defence format, it also discusses the development of military capabilities needed to discourage WMD proliferation, to deter threats and use of such weapons, and to protect NATO populations, territory and forces. It cooperates with other NATO bodies with competencies in the area of WMD and CBRN defence.
It can meet in several ways: Plenary Sessions (representatives from member country capitals), Points of Contact meetings (representatives from NATO Delegations in Brussels) and consultations with NATO partners, etc.
NATO’s largest public outreach event in the area of WMD non-proliferation is the Annual NATO Conference on WMD Arms Control, Disarmament and Non-Proliferation, which gathers a broad range of non-NATO countries from the Euro-Atlantic area and beyond. On average, 150 participants from more than 50 countries attend this conference every year.