 | |
 Belgium |  United States |
|---|---|
| Diplomatic mission | |
| Belgian Embassy, Washington, D.C. | United States Embassy, Brussels |
TheUnited States andBelgium maintain a friendly bilateral relationship. Continuing to celebrate cooperative U.S. and Belgian relations, 2007 marked the 175th anniversary of the nations' relationship.
According to the 2021 U.S. Global Leadership Report, 61% ofBelgians approve of U.S. leadership, with 26% disapproving and 13% uncertain.[1]
Prior to 1830, Belgium was part of theDutch Republic, whichcolonized much of the northeastern coast of North America during the 17th Century (seeNew Netherland,New Netherland settlements). As part of this (ultimately failed) colonial project, many Belgians settled in what would become the United States during the 1600s.
During theAmerican Revolutionary War many of the aforementioned Belgian settlers in North America fought in theContinental Army.
In 1830, Belgium declared its independence from theUnited Kingdom of the Netherlands. During the ensuingBelgian Revolution,France helped Belgium gain its independence. The United States recognized Belgium as an independent country on January 6, 1832.[2] An American legation headed byHugh S. Legaré arrived in Brussels that same year.[2] The U.S., Britain and other major countries demanded Belgium pay cash indemnities from Belgium for property damages incurred during its Revolution of 1830. American merchants lost $151,000. Belgium stalled for years and finally paid in 1842 after increasing threats from Washington about penalizing trade.[3]
Most of the routine diplomacy, and assistance in trade matters, was handled by the chargé d'affaires in Belgium:Hugh S. Legaré, 1832–36;Virgil Maxcy, 1837–42;Henry Washington Hilliard, 1842–44; andThomas Green Clemson, 1844-51.[4]
Many Belgians immigrated to the United States throughout the 19th Century. Today, there are over 350,000 United States residents who identify asBelgian American.[5] Many of these Belgian immigrants settled inMidwestern states, such asWisconsin andMichigan.
In 1884,Leopold II, theKing of the Belgians, struck a deal with the major European powers present at theBerlin Conference, held between the states that would later take part in theScramble for Africa. Leopold convinced those colonial powers present at the Conference to allow him to personally take control of an area of land known as theCongo Free State (comprising the territory of the modern-day country of theDemocratic Republic of the Congo). Under Leopold's private control,widespread atrocities were committed against the native Africans living in the Congo Free State. These atrocities werehighly publicized, with residents of the United States being among Leopold II's most vocal critics. Among the critics were famous Americans such asBooker T. Washington,W.E.B. Du Bois, andMark Twain (who attacked Leopold directly in an inflammatory pamphlet entitledKing Leopold's Soliloquy). In 1908, forced to respond to this international outcry, the Belgian governmentrescinded Leopold's private rule over the Congo Free State and annexed the territory, making the Congo Free State into theBelgian Congo, a full-fledged colony of Belgium.
U.S. and Belgian soldiers fought together during theSiege of the International Legations in 1900, part of the largerBoxer Rebellion inChina (1899-1901).
WhenGermany invaded Belgium in August 1914, the mining engineer and future U.S. PresidentHerbert Hoover set up aid organizations: theCommittee for Relief in Belgium (CRB) and the National Committee for Help and Food.[6] By the end of the war, these organizations had accumulated a net surplus of $30 million in funds, which was used to improve Belgium's educational system.[7][8]Brand Whitlock was a top aide to Hoover.[9]
The U.S. legation in Brussels was elevated to the status of an embassy on October 3, 1919.[10]
John Cudahy, wealthy scion of a Wisconsin meatpacking enterprise, in 1940 became Franklin Roosevelt's ambassador to Belgium. He developed a close personal friendship with King Leopold III. Germany forced his recall. He denounced Britain, France and the U.S. for a failure to plan an adequate defense. He became an embarrassment to Washington, which was officially neutral.[11]
U.S. troops helped to liberate Belgium fromGerman occupation along with British troops, Canadian troops, and members of theBelgian Resistance.[12] According to Pieter Lagrou, American policy after the Nazis were driven out focused on creating political stability and helping Allied military operations. Washington ignored the fierce ideological debates in Belgium, focusing on whether the King was wise or traitorous in his dealings with the Nazis. Washington and London were neutral on the Royal question, but US AmbassadorCharles Sawyer mistrusted the king and the Catholic parties. He saw significant dangers to democracy from those elements and therefore supported the left-wing coalition government headed by the socialists.[13]
Belgium received aid from the United States through theMarshall Plan, aimed at reconstructing the post-war European economy although Belgian economic recovery predated the Marshall Plan.[14] Both Belgium and the US were among the founding members ofNATO, a North Atlantic collective defence alliance. Belgium also participated in the US-led UN mission to repel the North Korean invasion of South Korea during theKorean War (seeBelgian United Nations Command).
According to Frank Gerits, Washington used the diplomats at the embassy and especially the facilities of theUnited States Information Service (USIS) in the 1950s to support its Cold War strategy. USIS propaganda influenced Belgian public opinion to favor the United States generally, support NATO, support the Korean war effort, and promote theEuropean Defense Community (EDC).[15]
In 1960, theBelgian Congo gained independence from Belgium as theRepublic of the Congo (today known as theDemocratic Republic of the Congo). As the newly independent country fell into civil war during theCongo Crisis, Belgium and the United States cooperated to foilSoviet efforts to turn the Congo into acommunist country. Both the Belgian and U.S. militaries intervened to rescue captives duringOperation Dragon Rouge. Belgium and the United States were ultimately successful in helping the oppressive, anti-communist regime ofJoseph-Désiré Mobutu come to power.
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The U.S. appreciates Belgian activism in international affairs, including its participation in theInternational Security Assistance Force inAfghanistan, its reconstruction and development assistance toIraq, its peacekeeping missions in theBalkans andLebanon, its frequent provision of airlift in international crises, and its hosting of 2005 and 2007 transatlantic dialogues between European foreign ministers and theSecretary of State. During the January 17, 2006, visit by Prime MinisterVerhofstadt, President Bush thanked him for his "leadership" in helping "the people of the Congo realize their full potential."
As an outward-looking nation, Belgium works closely with the United States bilaterally and in international and regional organizations to encourage economic and political cooperation and assistance to developing countries. Belgium has welcomed hundreds of U.S. firms to its territory, many of which have their European headquarters there.[which?]
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The Embassy of Belgium in Washington, D.C. is thediplomatic mission of theKingdom of Belgium to theUnited States. Thechancery is located at 1430 K Street,Northwest, Washington, D.C.[16] The previous location, in use by the Kingdom of Belgium since its construction in 1956, at 3330 Garfield St. NW, was sold toVietnam in 2019.[17]
Belgium also operates consulates-general inAtlanta,Los Angeles andNew York City. In addition, severalcommunities and regions of Belgium also have diplomatic representations in the United States. The Belgian ambassador to the United States isJean-Arthur Régibeau.[18]
The United States operates anembassy inBrussels while maintaining separate missions to theEuropean Union and toNATO.[19]
This article incorporatespublic domain material fromU.S. Bilateral Relations Fact Sheets.United States Department of State.
Media related toRelations of Belgium and the United States at Wikimedia Commons
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