The Political Affairs Division advises the Permanent Representative on all matters of foreign and security policy and represents the German Government on policy committees. The main topics here are Alliance policy issues, NATO operations and missions, partnerships with non-NATO countries and responses to the new security challenges.

Within the Political Affairs Division, the Civil Emergency Planning and National Security unit represents Germany’s interests in NATO bodies dealing with protection of the civilian population, civilian enterprises, facilities and institutions vital to life and/or defence (i.e. what is known as “critical infrastructure”), maintenance of state and government functions, and provision of civilian support measures for the armed Forces.