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TREATIES AND OTHER INTERNATIONAL ACTS SERIES 20-102 

DEFENSE 

Agreement Between the 

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 

and SUPREME HEADQUARTERS ALLIED 

POWERS EUROPE 

Effected by Exchange of Letters at Casteau 

October 18, 2019 and January 2, 2020 

Entered into force January 2, 2020 
 

 

NOTE BY THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE 

Pursuant to Public Law 89—497, approved July 8, 1966 

(80 Stat. 271; 1 U.S.C. 113)— 

“. . .the Treaties and Other International Acts Series issued 

under the authority of the Secretary of State shall be competent 

evidence . . . of the treaties, international agreements other than 

treaties, and proclamations by the President of such treaties and 

international agreements other than treaties, as the case may be, 

therein contained, in all the courts of law and equity and of maritime 

jurisdiction, and in all the tribunals and public offices of the 

United States, and of the several States, without any further proof 

or authentication thereof.” 
iOTHE 

NORTH ATLANTIC TREATY ORGANIZATION 

October 18, 2019 

Oen. Tod D. Wolters 

Supreme Allied Commander Europe 

Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) 

Dear Oeneral Wolters: 

I have the honor to refer to recent discussions between representatives of the Government of 

the United States of America and the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe regarding 

the establishment and operation of Joint Force Command Norfolk, Virginia (hereinafter 

"JFCNF"). 

Considering that the general relations between the parties to the North Atlantic Treaty and the 

several Allied Headquarters that may be established in the territories of the parties to the 

North Atlantic: Treaty have been defined in the Protocol on the status of international military 

headquarters (lMHQ) set up pursuant to the North Atlantic Treaty, signed at Paris August 28, 

1952, which entered into force April 10, 1954 (hereinafter "the Paris Protocol''); and 

recognizing that the North Atlantic Council activated JFCNF as a North Atlantic Treaty 

Organization (NA TO) military body with IMHQ status pursuant to the Paris Protocol on July 

26, 2019; and further recognizing the following Agreements: 

• the Agreement between the Parties to the North Atlantic Treaty regarding the Status of 

their Forces, signed at London June 19, 1951 (hereinafter "the NATO SOFA"); 

• the Agreement among the States Parties to the North Atlantic Treaty and the other 

States Participating in the Partnership for Peace regarding the Status of their Forces, 

and its additional Protocol, signed at Brussels June 19, 1995 (hereinafter "the PfP 

SOFA"), and its additional Protocols, as applicable; 

I have the honor to propose on behalf of the United States an agreement between the 

Government of the United States of America and the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers 

Europe (hereinafter collectively referred to as "the Parties") in order to implement, interpret, 

and apply the entirety of the Paris Protocol to JFCNF, in the territory of the United States of 

America (hereinafter "United States" or "U.S.'') and to any necessary headquarters or specific 

structure immediately subordinate to the JFCNF, which is to be established in the territory of 

the Continental United States, understanding that further agreements or arrangements may be 

concluded to support the operation of JFCNF: 

1. "SHAPE" meat1s Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe, a Supreme Headquarters 

as per Article l(b) of the Paris Protocol and set up pursuant to the North Atlantic Treaty. 

2. "HQ JFCNF" means the Headquarters of Joint Force Command- Norfolk, Virginia, a 

NATO Military Body With lMHQ status under the Paris Protocol that is part of the NATO 

Force Structure. 
3. "Commander JFCNF" means the Commander of the JFCNF as defined by NATO. 

4. "Subatdinate Headquarters" means, tb.e..lleatlquarters of any international c0truRllflde.l:. 

immediately subordinate to Commander JFCNF, which is located in the territory of the 

Continental United States. 

S. The expressions "force," "civilian component," and "dependent" shall have the same 

meanings as set out in Article 3 of the Paris Protocol. 

6. Article 2 of the Paris Protocol applies to HQ JFCNF and to the military and civilian 

personnel of HQ JFCNF and their dependents. 

7. The powers vested in SHAPE as enumerated in Articles 10 and 11 of the Paris Protocol 

may bll exercislld by HQ JFCNF, when duly authorized by SHAPE. Commander JFCNF, or 

any agent officially designated, may act on behalf of HQ JFCNF pursuant to the authorities 

provided by the HQ JFCNF constituents. 

8. All:y right of SHAPE and HQ JFCNF to acquire or dispose of interests in land in the 

United States shall be exercised only after consultation with appropriate representatives of the 

U.S. Government. 

9. In accordance with Article IX, paragraph 5, of the NATO SOFA, the United States shall 

make available to members of a force or civilian component, and their dependents, medical 

and dental care, including hospitalization, under the same conditions as such care is made 

available to comparable personnel of the United States. 

10. In accordance with Article 8, paragraph 2, of the Paris Protocol, and Article XI, 

paragraph 4, of the NATO SOFA, it is agreed that the United States shall permit the 

importation, free of duty, by HQ JFCNF of reasonable quantities of supplies, provisions, and 

other goods for the exclusive use of HQ JFCNF, Subordinate Headquarters, SHAPE, 

members of the force, members of the civilian component, and their dependents. In 

connection with such importation, HQ JFCNF shall comply with such procedures as may be 

mutually agreed or determined between Commander, HQ JFCNF, and the appropriate 

representative of the U.S. Government. 

11. HQ JFCNF and the appropriate representative of the U.S. Government shall make 

arrartgements to give effect to the provision in Article 8 of the Paris Protocol that HQ JFCNF, 

SHAPE when acting in relation to JFCNF, and any Subordinate Headquarters shall be 

relieved, as far as practicable, from duties and taxes affecting expenditures by them in the 

interest of common defense and for their official and exclusive benefit. 

12. In accordance with Article 3, paragraph 2, of the Paris Protocol, and Article IX, 

paragraph 3, of the NATO SOFA, the United States shall make available to HQ JFCNF and 

Subordinate Headquarters such buildings and grounds owned by the United States as may be 

agreed upon as well as facilities and services connected therewith. Terms regarding the 

buildings and grounds, and any fixed facilities installed therein, shall be addressed in a 

separate arrangement but they shall be made available at no cost to HQ JFCNF or 

Subordinate Headquarters as long as title thereto shall remain vested in the United States. If, 

at the request of either of the Parties and by agreement between them, the location of HQ 

JFCNF and Subordinate Headquarters should be changed, HQ JFCNF and Subordinate 

Headquarters shall return these buildings, grounds, and fixed installations unencumbered to 

the United States within a reasonable time. 

13. All other facilities and services that may be required shall be made available at a rate no 

less favorable than the rate at which similar facilities and services are charged to other U.S. 
activities by the agency of the United States furnishing such facilities and services. 

14. This. i\yreement muy be umcnded aum~Jinw at the request \lf' one of' the Partie11.@1Lby. 

agreement bctwilen them. 

lflhe toruaoing proposals arc 11cci:ptablc 1'1 SHAPE. I hnw th.: honor to prnpos<11ha1 this 

letter 11nd your af'nrmalivc letter in reply shull constitut~ 1111 agr~mcnt between the 

Government or the Unlt~d Stutc:11 of Anwrica and SHAPE. which shall mter into force tm the 

date of' your letter in reply. aml which shull ri:main in force for such time as HQ .IFCNF is 

loc11tcd in the territory of the C:ontinentnl United States. 

I avail mysell't1fthis opportunity lo renew to you the assurances ofmy highest considl:)rution. 
SUPREME ALLIED COMMANDER 

EUROPE 

COMMANDANT SUPREME DES FORCES ALLIEES 

EN EUROPE 

B-7010 SHAPE, BELGIUM 

Our Ref: SH/OLAIPU158119-004223 Tel: +32-(0)65-44-7111 {Operator) 

Tel: +32-(0)65-44-5208 

NCN: 254-5208 

Date: 2.January 2020 Fax: +32-(0)65-44-3545 {Registry) 

TO: Ambassador Kay Bailey Hutchison 

United States Mission to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization 

Boulevard Leopold Ill 

111 O Brussels 

SUBJECT: EXCHANGE OF LETTERS FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT AND 

OPERATION OF JOINT FORCE COMMAND NORFOLK 

REFERENCE: Letter dated 18 October 2019 Regarding the Establishment and Operation 

of Joint Force Command Norfolk. 

We have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 18 October 2019 regarding the 

establishment and operation of Joint Force Command Norfolk, Virginia. which reads as follows: 

•cansfdering that the general relations between the parties to tha North Atlantic Treaty 

and the several Allied Headquarters that may be established in the territories of the 

parties to the North Atlantic Treaty have bean defined in the Protocol on the status of 

international military headquarters (IMHQ) set up pursuant to the North Atlantic Treaty, 

signed at Paris August 28, 1952, which entered into force April 10, 1954 (hereinafter "the 

Paris Protocol"); and recognizing that the North Atlantic Council activated JFCNF as a 

North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) military body with IMHQ status pursuant to the 

Paris Protocol on July 26, 2019; and further recognizing the following Agreements: 

• the Agreement between the Parties to the North Atlantic Treaty regarding the 

Status of their Forces, signed at London June 19, 1951 (hereinafter "the NA TO SOFA"); 

• tha Agreement among the States Parties to the North Atlantic Treaty and the other 

States Participating In the Partnership for Peace regarding the Status of their Forces, and 

Its additional Protocol, signed at Brussels June 19, 1995 (hereinafter "the PfP SOFA"), 

and its additional Protocols, as applicable; 

I have the honor to propose on behalf of the United States an agreement between the 

Government of the United States of America and the Supreme Headquarters Al/led 

Powers Europe (hereina(tfN collectively referred to as "the Parties") fn order to 

implement, interpret, and apply the entirety of the Paris Protocol to JFCNF, in tha territory 

of the United States of America (hereinafter "United States• or "U.S.") and to any 

necessa,y headquarters or specific structure immediately subordinate to the JFCNF. 

which is to be established in the territory of the Continental United States. understanding 

that further agreements or arrangements may be concluded to support the operation of 

JFCNF: 
1.. "SHAPE" means Supieme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe, a Supreme 

Headq1.1ai;ters as per Arlicie l(b). of the Paris Protocol and set up pursuant to the Nortn 

Atlantic Treaty. · 

2. "HQ ,JFCNF" means the Headquarters of Joint Force Command - Norfolk; Virginia, 

a NA TO A?fi/itaiy Body with tMHQ status underthe Paris Protocol that is part ofthe NATO .Force Strocture. . .. 

3. "Corr,TnfJnder JFCNF" means the Commander of the JFCNF as defined by NATO, 

4, ·suqordinate HeadquarterS" means the headqLJarters of any intsrnattonat 

commander immediately subordfn;1te to Commander JFCNF, which is loca~ in .the 

territory of the Continental United States, 

5. The expressions "force,• "civilian component," and "dependent· shall have the 

same meanings as,set .out in Article 3 of the Parts. Protocol. 

6. Art;c/e 2 of the Paris Protor;olapplies(o HQ JFCNFand to the mllitary anct cMlfan 

per$onnel qf HQ .JFCNF an.d their dependents. 

7. The powers veste(i fn SHAPE as enumerated in Articles 10 and 11 pf the Paris 

Protocol ~y be ex11rci$ed f)y HQ JFCNF, when duly authorize(# by SHAPE. Cf»n1718f1der 

JFCNF, or any af}8nt officially designated, may act on behalf of HQ JFCNF purwant to. 

the authorities provided by/he HQ JFCNF constltilents. 

B. Atty right of SHAPE and HQ JFCNF to acquire or dispose of interests rn land in 

the United States shall ·be exercise(# only after consultation with appropriate 

repre$6ntatives of tfle U.S. Gpvemment. 

9. In aGCordance with Article IX; paragraph 5, qfthe NATO SOFA, the United States 

shall make ·available to. members of a force or civilian component,. and the.it de(JfJndents, 

medical and dental care, inc/tiding hospitaiizatiort, under the same conditions as such 

care is made available to comparable personnel of the United States. 

10, In accordanc& with Article B, paragraph 2, of the Paris Protocol, and Ar.tic/e XI, 

parFJgraph 4, of the NATO SOFA, itis agreed that the United states shall permit .the 

importation, free ofduty, by HQ JFCNF of reasonable quantities of supplies. prqtAsions, 

and other goDt:fs.for the exclu$ive use of HQ JFCNF, Subordinate Headquarters, SHAPE, 

members of th.e force, members ,;,t the civilian component, and their d1;1pendents. In 

connection with such importation, HQ JFCNF sh,111 compiy w(th such procedtiresas may 

.be mutually agreed or determined between Commander, HQ.JFCNF, and the ;1pproprlate 

representative of the u. S. Government. 

11. HQ JFCNF and tire appropriate representative of the U:S. Government $hallmake 

ariattgements to give effect to the provision in Arlicle B of the Paris Protocol that .HQ 

JFCNF, SHAPE when acting in relation to JFCNF, and any Subordinate. Headquarters 

sh.all be relieved, as far as J)rElcticabfe, · from duties arid. taxes affecting expenditures .by 

· them. in the interest ofcommon defense a.nd for their offlcial and flxc/uslve benefit. · 

1.2. In a0)ordance with Article 3, f)arFJgfapb 2, of the Paris Protocol; and Article IX, 

paragraph 3, of the NATO SOFA, the United States shall mak1;1 'ariaitable to.HQ JFCIVF 

.and Subordinate Headquarters such buildings and grounds owned by tt,e United States 

as may be agreed upon as. well as facilities <1nd services connected therewith. Terms 

regarding the buildings and -grounds, and any fixed facilities i11$lled therein, sh;;,/f be 
addressed (n a separate arrangement bl.It they shall be made available af no .cosMo HQ 

JFCNF ot Subordinate Headquarters as long as t/tfe thereto shaltremain vasted In the 

United States. If, at the request of eiiher of the Parties and by agreement,be~en them; 

tne loeatfptJ of HQ JFCNF and Subordinate Headquartets should be changed, HQ 

JFCNF and Subordinate Headquarters shall return these bllilditigs, grounds, and fixed 

installations un!lnCu{Tlbered to the United States WitlJin a reasonable time, 

13. All ofJ)er faci}it/1;1s and servicas that may be ;required shall be ma<fe BVElilable at a 

rate no fess favourable than the rate at which similar facilities and services are charged 

ta other U.S. activities by the. agency of the llnited States furnishing such facilities and 

services, 

14.. This Agreermmt may be amended at any time at the request of ornt ofthe Palties 

an.d by agreement.between them. 

tfthe foregoing proposals are acceptable to.SHAPE, lhaV? the.honorto.propos& that thi11 

latter and yoor affirmative lettet in reply shall constitute an agreement between the 

Government of the l:lnited States of America and SHAPE, which shall antet into force on 

thEJ date of your letter in reply; and which shall remain fn foroe for suc;h time ;JS HQ 

JFCNF isJacated. infhe territory of the Continental United $tales." 

We are plea$ed to infi;mn you of SHAPE's accept;;mce of the proppsal outlined In yourletter .. 

which, :together with this reply, constitut~s an agreement between the Government of the United 

States of America and SHAPE, which enters into force immediately. 

Please 110te that the POC in this matter is Mr ..Jan Bartels, Deputy Director of the ACO Office of 

legal Affa~ at email: jan.bartels@shape;ll8to.ir1t. 

<(-a_~ftgg; ~ .. Tod D, Wolters . 

General, U.S. Air Force 

DISTRIBUTION: 

Extema:1: 

Information: . . . . . . . 

NMR ofthe United States to SHAPE 

lntemat 

Information: 

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