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Nuclear Planning Group (NPG)

Updated: 20 May 2026

The Nuclear Planning Group (NPG) is the senior body responsible for NATO’s nuclear deterrence. Established in 1966, it provides a forum for consultation and decision-making on all issues that relate to nuclear deterrence, including nuclear policy, doctrine, planning, force posture, capabilities and exercises. It also addresses the overall effectiveness, safety and security of NATO’s nuclear weapons, and the corresponding consultation, command and control systems.

  • While the North Atlantic Council (NAC) is the principal political decision-making body within NATO, the NAC defers consultation and decision-making on nuclear issues to the NPG, which is also chaired by the Secretary General.
  • All NATO Allies – with the exception of France, which has chosen not to participate – are members of the NPG, regardless of whether or not they possess nuclear weapons. The NPG usually meets at the level of Defence Ministers.
  • The Alliance's nuclear policy is kept under constant review, and is adapted and strengthened in light of changes to the security environment. Through the NPG, Allies maintain political control of all aspects of NATO’s nuclear deterrence at all times and under all circumstances.
  • Decisions within the NPG are taken by consensus, as is the case for all NATO committees.
  • NATO is committed to arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation, but as long as nuclear weapons exist, it will remain a nuclear alliance.

Working procedures

The work of the NPG is prepared by the NPG Staff Group. The NPG Staff Group is the principal subordinate committee to the NPG. This committee is composed of members of the national delegations of all member countries (with the exception of France) and is chaired by a high-level staff member of the NATO International Staff. The Staff Group carries out detailed work on behalf of the NPG and provides political advice on matters related to NATO nuclear deterrence, ensuring that the guidance, direction and taskings from the NPG are implemented.

The High Level Group (HLG) is the senior advisory body to the NPG on nuclear policy, planning and force posture issues. In 1998-1999, the HLG also took over the functions and responsibilities of the former Senior Level Weapons Protection Group (SLWPG), which was charged with overseeing nuclear weapons safety matters. The United States chairs the HLG, which meets at the level of national policy directors from Allied capitals. Together they discuss aspects of NATO's nuclear deterrence policy, planning, force posture, capabilities, exercises and matters concerning the safety, security and effectiveness of NATO’s nuclear deterrent. The HLG is advised by an Ad Hoc Working Group (AHWG), which includes representatives from capitals or national delegations who address specific issues as directed by the HLG.

Evolution

The NPG was founded in December 1966, when the Defence Planning Committee in Ministerial Session accepted the recommendation of the Special Committee of Defence Ministers, chaired by Robert McNamara of the United States, to establish a consultative process on nuclear issues within NATO.

Ministers implemented the recommendation by creating two ministerial bodies: the Nuclear Defence Affairs Committee (NDAC), which was open to all NATO members, and the NPG, which was restricted to member countries participating in NATO’s integrated military structure and was mandated to carry out detailed work on nuclear issues.

The first meeting of the Nuclear Planning Group was held on 6-7 April 1967 in Washington, D.C. Present at that meeting were the Defence Ministers from Canada, Italy, the Netherlands, Türkiye, the United Kingdom, the United States and West Germany.

Initially, in order to facilitate the NPG’s work, only seven NATO Allies sat on the Group at any one time. The United States, the United Kingdom, Italy and West Germany were permanent members, while appointments to the other three NPG seats lasted for one year, and rotated among the eligible countries. Until 1973, the NDAC met once per year at ministerial level to review and provide formal approval for the proposals of the NPG.

Since then, even though the NDAC was never formally abolished, its work has been taken over by the NPG, which then became the only formal NATO body addressing NATO nuclear deterrence issues. The rotational membership of the NPG ended in 1979 in recognition of the increasing importance to all members of NATO nuclear deterrence.

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