The North Atlantic Council (NAC) is the principal political decision-making body of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), consisting of permanent representatives of its member countries.

The NAC meets twice a week: every Tuesday, for an informal lunch discussion; and every Wednesday for a decision-taking session.

Usually, meetings occur amongst the permanent representatives who are the senior permanent member of each delegation and is generally a senior civil servant or an experienced ambassador (and holding that diplomatic rank).

The meetings of the NAC are chaired by the Secretary General and, when decisions have to be made, action is agreed upon on the basis of unanimity and common accord.

Each nation represented at the NAC table or on any of its subordinate committees retains complete sovereignty and responsibility for its own decisions.