Why did NATO establish the North Atlantic Cooperation Council in 1991?

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Flag of NATO featuring a white compass rose emblem with four lines radiating from the center on a blue background. — North Atlantic Treaty Organization Flag of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

Following the end of the Cold War, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) underwent a strategic transformation to become a cooperative-security organization.1

NATO established the North Atlantic Cooperation Council in 1991 to fulfill its new mandate of fostering dialogue and cooperation with former adversaries in the Warsaw Pact. By providing a dedicated forum for the exchange of views on political and security issues, the council aimed to maintain international stability in Europe during a period of significant geopolitical change. This initiative reflected the alliance's shift toward a more political role following the dissolution of the Soviet-led military bloc.12