US Air Force Deputy Under Secretary Addresses Space Cooperation during Luxembourg Visit

Deputy Under Secretary of the United States (US) Air Force for International Affairs, Kelli L. Seybolt, visited Luxembourg on Thursday and Friday to meet with government and industry leaders.

More specifically, the Deputy Under Secretary had meetings with Luxembourg's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, Francois Bausch, as well as leadership from the Directorate of Defence in the area of space affairs and Steve Collar, the CEO of Luxembourg satellite company SES. Kelli L. Seybolt also visited the Luxembourg American Cemetery in Luxembourg-Hamm to pay her respects to the US veterans who gave their lives in the defence of Luxembourg during the Second World War. 

Deputy Under Secretary Kelli L. Seybolt stated:“It was a pleasure to meet with Deputy Prime Minister Bausch to discuss Luxembourg’s continued efforts to support NATO and the exciting future of US-Luxembourg space cooperation. With increased availability to access space and partners growing more robust space sectors, there are significant opportunities to bolster our combined space capabilities through cooperation. The Department of the Air Force and US Space Force therefore look forward to working with Luxembourg on co-development and partnering in the frontier of space, where Luxembourg has proved itself a global leader”.

Deputy Prime Minister François Bausch added: “It has been an honor to meet Deputy Under Secretary of the Air Force, International Affairs Seybolt here in Luxembourg. Having already had the pleasure to meet Ms Seybolt before, I took the opportunity of this visit (to Europe) to follow-up on previous discussions. Especially the development with the United States of a long-term space partnership and more particularly of the upcoming expansion of our SATCOM cooperation was at the focal point of our meeting. Luxembourg values the excellent bilateral cooperation in the space domain and is pleased to further strengthen our partnership as well as to develop a cooperation in the cyber defense domain”.

Casey Mace, Chargé d’Affaires at the US Embassy in Luxembourg, concluded: “Deputy Under Secretary Seybolt’s visit demonstrates the continued close bond between the United States and Luxembourg in a number of key areas, from space exploration and defence cooperation to our historic ties forged in World War II. Deputy Prime Minister Bausch has been a strong partner in our country’s cooperation, from his work launching a Defense Working Group on Space, trips to see his counterparts in Washington DC, extending Luxembourg’s support for the US Air Force Warehouse Facility in Sanem, and the agreement last week with NATO to improve space situational awareness. The Embassy is proud to welcome leadership in the current Administration as the United States and Luxembourg move forward together as partners and allies”.