Embassy of the United States

About the Embassy

Embassy Sections

Administration
The Administrative Section is responsible for managing the embassy's day to day operations. The administrative section focuses on financial affairs, communications, facilities maintenance, procurement and contracting, and personnel.

Political/Economic Section
The Political/Economic Section follows, analyzes and reports political and economic developments in Belgium and generates support for U.S. policy objectives with key Belgian leaders.  The section assesses the results of U.S. policies and programs on political and economic relations with Belgium and helps the Ambassador develop policy proposals.  It also provides U.S. government agencies in Washington, D.C. and other embassies with first-hand information and expert analysis on Belgian political, economic, and financial developments.  The U.S. and Belgium enjoy a high degree of cooperation on significant issues such as Afghanistan, counter-terrorism, terrorist financing and security initiatives such as the Megaports project in Antwerp.

Public Diplomacy
The mission of the Public Diplomacy Section is to promote understanding of U.S. political, economic and social issues -- explaining to Belgian audiences both the Administration's foreign policy agenda and the complexities of U.S. society and culture.

Public Diplomacy offices consist of three major elements:

• The Press Section is responsible for explaining the content of U.S. Policy, and handles all media inquiries concerning official U.S. government policy.
• The Exchanges & Programs section is responsible for providing Belgian audiences with an understanding of the context of foreign policy by presenting a fuller picture of the values, beliefs, and principles held by Americans.
• Information Resource Center (IRC) provides authoritative, relevant, and timely background on both the content and context of U.S. policy issues.

Regional Security Office (RSO)
Regional Security Office Special Agents of the Bureau of Diplomatic Security are sworn Federal Law Enforcement Officers who are responsible for the security of Foreign Service personnel, property, and sensitive information throughout the world. Referred to overseas as Regional Security Officers, agents administer and manage U.S. diplomatic mission security programs to include protection of personnel, facilities, and sensitive information against hostile intelligence, criminal, and terrorist activities. Other duties include managing the Marine Security Guard and contract local guard security programs, manage or implement security-related aspects of new office building construction, and develop and implement counter-terrorist access controls for existing and new buildings.

For more information on Diplomatic Security, go to the Bureau of Diplomatic Security and the Overseas Security Advisory Council.

Consular Section
The Consular Section protects the interests of American citizens who travel or reside in Belgium and adjudicates applications for visas. Services for American citizens include passports, reports of birth, notarial services, and assistance in arrests, deaths, and other cases involving Americans. 

Transportation Security Administration (TSA)
TSA’s mission is to protect the nation’s transportation systems by ensuring the freedom of movement for people and commerce; internationally and domestically.

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) was created in response to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, as part of the Aviation and Transportation Security Act signed into law by President George W. Bush on November 19, 2001.

TSA was originally in the Department of Transportation but was later moved to the Department of Homeland Security in March 2003.

U.S. Commercial Service
The U.S. Commercial Service Belgium at the Embassy offers valuable assistance to help U.S. business export goods and services to Belgium. Trade specialists can help you identify trade opportunities, find local trading partners, launch your company, and obtain market research reports. The U.S. Commercial Service Belgium has its own website: www.buyusa.gov/belgium/en

Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) works together with Belgium and international drug law enforcement agencies on matters regarding international drug control programs and drug related money laundering.

Legal Attaché
The Legal Attache's Office works together with Belgian and international law enforcement organizations to combat international crime. To find out more, visit the FBI website.

Defense Organizations
The Office of Defense Cooperation (ODC) is responsible for the full range of defense cooperation activities in Belgium. Chief among these activities is the support of bi-lateral armaments cooperation programs. Other activities include U.S. Foreign Military Sales (FMS) of defense articles, services and training. Belgium has procured and continues to support many of its most important armaments systems through the assistance of the ODC. The other defense organization is the Defense Attache's Office (DAO). 

Office of Defense Cooperation
Our mission is to support U.S. foreign policy and national security objectives by enabling cooperation and interoperability of Belgian, Luxembourgish, U.S. and other NATO militaries through the acquisition of U.S. defense goods and services and by participating in international armaments cooperation activities. read more

Defense Attache Office (DAO)
The United States Defense Attaché Office (DAO) performs representational functions on behalf of the Secretary of Defense, the Secretaries of the Military Services, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Chiefs of the U.S. Military Services and the Commander of European Command. The Defense Attaché at the American Embassy, Brussels, is Colonel Daniel J. Fagundes, USA.

• Enlistment in the U.S. Armed Forces For U.S. Citizens
• Enlistment In The U.S. Armed Forces For Non-U.S. Citizens
• Finding Former Military Personnel In The U.S

Military Records Centers (these lists also include sources of photos, historical information, artifacts, etc):

• U.S. Army Records Centers
• U.S. Navy Records Centers
• U.S. Air Force Records Centers

Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS)+ Agricultural Affairs Office
The Agricultural Service at the American Embassy in The Hague represents the interests of the USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) in the Benelux.

Foreign Agricultural Service The Hague
Lange Voorhout 102
2514 EJ The Hague
The Netherlands
Tel: +31 70-310-2299
Fax: + 31 70-365-7681
E-Mail: AgTheHague@fas.usda.gov
visit the web site: http://thehague.usembassy.gov/fas.html

U.S. Marine Corps Security Guards
The United States Marine Corps Security Guards protect classified material, American lives, and property of U.S. missions abroad.