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Belgian Embassy, Washington, D.C. United States Embassy, Brussels | ||
The United States and Belgium maintain a friendly bilateral relationship. Continuing to celebrate cooperative U.S. and Belgian relations, 2007 marked the 175th anniversary of the nations' relationship.
Contents
- World War I 19141918
- World War II 193945
- Cold War 194691
- Post Cold War 1991present
- Principal US officials
- Diplomatic missions
- References
According to the 2012 U.S. Global Leadership Report, 26% of Belgians approve of U.S. leadership, with 16% disapproving and 58% uncertain.
World War I (1914–1918)
When the Germans invaded Belgium, a neutral territory, the mining engineer and future president Herbert Hoover set up aid organizations: the Committee for Relief in Belgium (CRB) and the National Committee for Help and Food. 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.
World War II (1939–45)
The US helped liberate Belgium from German occupation along with British and Canadian troops as well as Belgian resistance.
Cold War (1946–91)
Belgium received US aid through the Marshall plan, aimed at reconstructing the post-war European economy although Belgian economic recovery predated the Marshall Plan. Both Belgium and the US were among the founding members of NATO, 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 the Korean War.
Post-Cold War (1991–present)
The U.S. appreciates Belgian activism in international affairs, including its participation in the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan, its reconstruction and development assistance to Iraq, its peacekeeping missions in the Balkans and Lebanon, its frequent provision of airlift in international crises, and its hosting of 2005 and 2007 transatlantic dialogues between European foreign ministers and the Secretary of State. During the January 17, 2006 visit by Prime Minister Verhofstadt, President Bush thanked him for his "leadership" in helping "the people of the Congo realize their full potential." The U.S. continues to believe that Belgium could be even more active in sharing international security concerns.
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.