Embassy of the United States

ODC BELLUX has played a vital role in strengthening the alliances between the United States, Belgium and Luxembourg since 1950.  Luxembourg’s and Belgium’s armed forces possess U.S. defense equipment purchased either through the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) or Direct Commercial Sales (DCS) programs.  Notable procurements for Belgium include the F-16, and C-130 aircraft, Armored Infantry Vehicles, AIM-9M air-to-air missiles, and TOW-IIA anti-tank missiles as well as the training programs to support those equipment items.  Luxembourg purchased armored and unarmored versions of the High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HUMVEE) and DAGR GPS Systems. 

ODC BELLUX is located in the heart of Brussels near the U.S. Embassy to Belgium and the Belgian Ministry of Defense.  Brussels also hosts the European headquarters for many American companies, as well as the NATO Headquarters and the European Union.  ODC BELLUX maintains extensive contacts with U.S., Belgian, and Luxembourgish industrialists who are looking for opportunities to strengthen the militaries of the United States, Belgium and Luxembourg. 

Mission

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.
 

Responsibilities/Functions/Activities

ODC BELLUX is a joint service office responsible to the U.S. Ambassador and the U.S. European Command.  The ODC administers U.S. Security Assistance programs, Defense Cooperation in Armaments, and logistics planning within the Belgian and Luxembourgish defense acquisition and logistics environments.

Security Cooperation/Assistance

Security Cooperation is a broad term covering all aspects of DoD’s engagement programs.  However, Security Assistance includes Foreign Military Sales of U.S. defense equipment, military training, and other defense related services.  Specifically, Security Assistance concerns the transfer of military and economic assistance through sale, grant, lease, or loan to friendly and allied foreign governments.  Transfers are carried out under the principle that if they are essential to the security and economic well being of such governments and international organizations then they are equally vital to the security and economic well being of the United States.

Defense Cooperation in Armaments (DCA)

In Belgium and Luxembourg, Defense Cooperation in Armaments is that portion of U.S. security assistance that encourages cooperative defense procurement programs between the U.S. and host nation governments or international organizations.  The three major DCA focus areas are U.S. industry to foreign government or international organization relations; foreign defense industry to U.S. government relations; and U.S. defense industry to foreign defense industry cooperation.  DCA efforts include the F-16 Multinational Fighter Program; bilateral research and development activities; Data Exchange Agreements; Foreign Comparative Testing; Engineer & Scientist Exchanges; support to U.S. defense industries seeking to do business in Belgium and Luxembourg; and assisting Belgian and Luxembourgish industry in marketing defense products in the U.S.

Logistics and Agreements

Logistics and agreements activities between the United States and Belgium and Luxembourg are wide-ranging.  These include planning/coordinating bilateral mutual logistics support arrangements and the transport of U.S. personnel and equipment through Belgium and Luxembourg.  In this function, the ODC serves as the point of contact for United States European Command (USEUCOM), its subordinate units (USAREUR, USAFE, NAVEUR, and SOCEUR), and the Governments of Belgium and Luxembourg for the establishment, amendment, negotiation and cessation of technical stationing and international implementing agreements.