The Deputy Permanent Representative

Dr Jan Grünhage assumed office as Deputy Permanent Representative of the Federal Republic of Germany to NATO in August 2024. In this capacity, he represents Germany in the Deputies Committee (DPRC) and heads the Permanent Delegation in the absence of the Ambassador.

Between August 2023 and August 2024, he led the Political Affairs Division of the Permanent Delegation. From 2019 to 2023, he served as Minister(Political Affairs) at the German Embassy in Washington. Earlier postings took him to the Federal Chancellery (Head of Division for Basic EU Issues from 2015 to 2019), to the Office of the Minister of State for Europe at the Federal Foreign Office (Deputy Head of Office from 2012 to 2015) and to Paris (Director of European Affairs at the German Embassy from 2010 to 2012 and Advisor on Franco-German relations in the Cabinet of the French Prime Minister from 2009 to 2010). His career began with postings in the Federal Chancellery (desk officer in the European Directorate-General) and in the Economic Directorate-General of the Federal Foreign Office (desk officer for nuclear safety and non-proliferation).

Dr Grünhage obtained a doctoral degree at the Politics Faculty of Bonn University and qualified from the University of Edinburgh (Economics and Politics) and the College of Europe in Bruges (European Political Studies).

Political Affairs Division

The Political Affairs Division advises the Permanent Representative on all matters of foreign and security policy and represents the German Government on the NATO policy committees responsible for Alliance security policy, NATO operations and missions, and partnerships with non-NATO countries.

As part of the Political Affairs Division, the Civil Emergency Planning and National Security Section represents Germany’s interests in the NATO bodies concerned with cyber defence and hybrid threats, the protection of the civilian population and critical infrastructure, and the provision of civilian support measures to the armed forces.

Defence Policy and Planning Division

The Defence Policy and Planning Division advises and supports the Permanent Representative on all matters of defence and military policy. On the NATO committees, the Division’s staff represent Germany’s interests in drawing up politico-military advice and recommendations for decisions by the North Atlantic Council. The topics addressed here include the future direction of the Alliance’s defence posture, the military capabilities required for the core tasks of deterrence and defence, crisis management and cooperative security, and associated specialised topics such as air defence, missile defence and nuclear policy.

Defence Budget and Security Investment Section

In order to ensure that NATO runs smoothly, the Alliance receives direct contributions from its members. These contributions are allocated to the military budget, the civil budget and the NATO Security Investment Programme. The Defence Budget and Security Investment Section represents German interests in this common funding from the military budget or the NATO Security Investment Programme on six NATO committees: the Resource Policy and Planning Board, which directly advises the North Atlantic Council and draws up the Alliance’s Medium Term Resource Plan; the Budget Committee, which negotiates the military budget each year; the Investment Committee, which is responsible for the NATO Security Investment Programme that funds, inter alia, jointly used infrastructure on Allied territory and technical and communications systems for the Alliance; the Financial Committee for the Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA); and the Financial Committee and Audit Committee in the Supervisory Board of the NATO Communications and Information Organisation/Agency.

NATO Civil Budget, New Headquarters Budget and Civilian Personnel Regulations Section

The NATO Civil Budget, New Headquarters Budget and Civilian Personnel Regulations Section represents Germany as regards civil matters on the Budget Committee, via which all of the civil activities at NATO Headquarters (staffing and pension costs, running and expanding the Headquarters, investments, programmes, partnership activities, civil contributions to operations and missions etc.) are funded. The section also represents Germany’s civil-budget interests on the Resource Policy and Planning Board and is responsible for matters concerning the International Board of Auditors for NATO. Finally, its remit also includes structural aspects of NATO service regulations and staffing policy.

Materiel, Information Technology and Equipment Management Section

The Materiel, Information Technology and Equipment Management Section represents the German Government in the Conference of National Armaments Directors (CNAD) and on the NATO Consultation, Command and Control Board (C3B). The main role of these bodies is to further cooperation among Allies and, in some areas, with partner countries, on materiel, innovation and IT. In addition, the section serves as a point of contact for the German defence industry and its associations.

Press and Public Affairs Section

The Press and Public Affairs Section deals with the public diplomacy work of Germany’s Delegation to NATO, organises press events with the German Foreign and Defence Ministers, and represent Germany interests in the relevant NATO bodies. The section works closely with NATO’s Public Diplomacy Division. The press team is the point of contact for German and international correspondents accredited in Brussels. The Press Section uses the Delegation’s X/Twitter account to provide day-to-day updates on Germany’s role in NATO. It also looks after groups of German visitors to NATO headquarters.

Please use our contact form to get in touch with us. You can contact NATO's Public Diplomacy Division at mailbox.publicdiplomacyinformation@hq.nato.int.

Language Services Section

The Language Services Section provides the Permanent Delegation with language support, such as translations of documents and instructions into NATO’s official languages, English and French. As regards NATO Summits and meetings of the North Atlantic Council, the Language Services Section produces the official German version of the final communiqués and declarations. It also helps with all kinds of terminological questions and serves as a point of contact to NATO’s Translation Service.

Administration Section

The Administration Section creates the conditions needed for the Permanent Delegation to function. Its work is very diverse, ranging from staffing and organisational matters to premises, office equipment, the motor pool and office security.