Swift and seamless airport experiences may soon be on the horizon for Belgian travellers to the United States.
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Speaking at the Euronews Travel & Tourism Summit 2026 in Brussels, Bill White, Ambassador of the United States of America to Belgium, said that long queues at American airports will be a thing of the past for Belgian travellers.
During his one-to-one discussion with summit host Jane Witherspoon, Ambassador White said that he received approval from President Donald Trump to move ahead with plans to grant Belgians access to the Global Entry programme – a development the ambassador said he is “very happy about”.
Global Entry, operated by US Customs and Border Protection, allows pre-approved, low-risk travellers to benefit from expedited processing when they arrive on American soil.
For a fee of $120, eligible travellers to major US airports enjoy reduced waiting times at faster process lines and access to TSA pre-checks, which won't need to be renewed for five years. Currently, this programme is only available to American citizens and the country’s permanent residents.
“We're working with the Belgian government to get the paperwork in order. The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Maxime Prévot, is personally leading this effort,” Ambassador White said, adding that he is confident that this may be finalised as soon as by the end of 2026.
The summit began with remarks from Pedro Vargas David, Chairman of Euronews, who highlighted that last year, as many as 25 million Americans travelled across Europe, marking a new record. In the other direction, Ambassador White shared that the US had welcomed 80 million international tourists.
The American envoy also shared that one of the things he loves about travel is when people get to meet people – because “that’s where the magic happens”. Passionate about travel beyond the beaten path, while highlighting that Belgium is much more than merely waffles and chocolate, he added that he loves when visitors venture beyond the usual hotspots of New York, Washington or Los Angeles.
“Take a hike in Utah – you'll be happier than when you went to New York,” he said, adding that it’s really the most beautiful place to visit.
Looking ahead, the US is preparing to host the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles – an event the ambassador said he was excited to see return to the country. Although he didn’t sound too keen on LA traffic.
He also reflected on the recent FIFA World Cup 2026 co-hosted by the States alongside Mexico and Canada. He said that the tournament gave visitors the chance to experience American culture first hand, including remembering a viral video of a visitor enjoying an American hot dog during their trip.