With permanent delegations of NATO members and partners based at the Headquarters, there is ample opportunity for informal and formal consultation on a continuous basis, a key part of the Alliance’s decision-making process. Some 1,000 are civilian members of the International Staff or NATO agencies located within the Headquarters and about 500 are members of the International Military Staff, which also includes civilians. About 300 people work at the missions of NATO's partners countries. Of these, some 2,000 are members of national delegations and supporting staff members of national military representatives to NATO. Roughly 4,000 people work at NATO Headquarters on a full-time basis. It also offers a venue for dialogue and cooperation between partner countries and NATO member countries, enabling them to work together in their efforts to bring about peace and stability. NATO Headquarters is where representatives from all the member states come together to make decisions on a consensus basis. Initially based in London, the Headquarters was moved to Paris in 1952 before being transferred to Brussels, Belgium in 1967.The Headquarters hosts roughly 6,000 meetings every year.The work of these delegations and missions is supported by NATO's International Staff and International Military Staff, also based at the Headquarters.It is also home to national delegations of member countries and to liaison offices or diplomatic missions of partner countries.It is the permanent home of the North Atlantic Council – NATO's senior political decision-making body.

NATO Headquarters is the political and administrative centre of the Alliance.

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