NATOs joint efforts

NATO's joint efforts
Operations

Since October 2001, Operation Active Endeavour has been established under Article 5 as NATO’s immediate response to the terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001 to deter, detect and, if necessary, disrupt the threat of terrorism in the Mediterranean Sea. NATO operations often have relevance to international counter-terrorism efforts, even if their mandate is not specifically tailored to the terrorist threat. NATO maritime forces can play an important role inter alia in counter-terrorism, crisis management and humanitarian assistance. The NATO-led operation in Afghanistan, while not a counter-terrorism operation as such, is helping to prevent Afghanistan from ever again becoming a safe haven for international terrorism by assisting the government of Afghanistan to expand its authority and implement security.
Securing major public events

NATO can provide assistance in promoting the security of major public events that might attract the interest of terrorists. At the request of the government concerned, it can deploy capabilities such as the Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft or elements of the multinational Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) Defence Battalion. The Alliance has assisted high-visibility events such as NATO Summits and ministerial meetings, as well as events like the Athens Olympic Games, the European Football Championship held in Poland and Ukraine in 2012 and the 2013 Dutch royal handover.
Protecting populations and critical infrastructure against the consequences of terrorist attacks

National authorities are primarily responsible for protecting their population and critical infrastructure against the consequences of terrorist attacks, CBRN incidents and natural disasters. NATO serves as a forum to develop non-binding guidelines and minimum standards as well as to exchange best practices and lessons learned for such eventualities to improve preparedness and national resilience. NATO has developed ‘Guidelines for first response to a CBRN incident’ and organises ‘International Courses for Trainers of First Responders to CBRN Incidents’ in six regional training centres. Providing timely information to the public is also a key component of consequence management, so NATO has developed guidelines to advise national authorities on warning the general public and alerting emergency responders.

A network of 380 civil experts from across the Euro-Atlantic area exists to support these efforts. Their expertise covers all civil aspects relevant to NATO planning and operations, including crisis management, consequence management and critical infrastructure protection. Drawn from government and industry, experts participate in training and exercises, and respond to requests for assistance.
The role of the Euro-Atlantic Disaster Response Coordination Centre

Under the auspices of the Euro-Atlantic Disaster Resp

onse Coordination Centre (EADRCC), Allies have established an inventory of national civil and military capabilities that could be made available to assist stricken countries – both member and partner countries – following a CBRN terrorist attack. Originally created in 1998 to coordinate responses to natural and man-made disasters, since 2001 the EADRCC also coordinates responses to potential terrorist acts involving CBRN agents. The Centre has a standing mandate to respond to a national request for assistance in the event of a terrorist attack using CBRN agents. It organises major international field exercises to practise responses to simulated disaster situations and consequence management.
NATO Crisis Management System

The NATO Crisis Management System provides the Alliance with a comprehensive set of options and measures to manage and respond to the full range of crises that the Alliance may be required to face in a timely, coordinated and discriminate manner. Specific Civil Emergency Planning Crisis Management Arrangements define the roles of the Civil Emergency Planning Committee, the Planning Groups, the EADRCC and the use of civil experts during times of crisis.

NATO's capabilities

Strengthening cooperation with partners

Strengthening cooperation with other organisations

Improving training, education and cooperation through science

Milestones in NATO’s work on counter-terrorism

Topics

NATO and the fight against terrorism

PDF Library

NATO’s policy guidelines on counter-terrorism PDF / 56.01 kb

NATO Briefing: Countering Terrorism
NATO Briefing: Tackling new security challenges