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    Embassy & Diplomatic

    Embassy and Diplomatic Services

    Mission-grade security for embassies, diplomatic missions, and ambassadorial residences — guarding, threat assessment, and event protection from a single accountable provider.

    Diplomatic security demands a different posture. Personnel must be vetted to a higher standard, doctrine must be coherent across multiple jurisdictions, and conduct must reflect the host-country protocol rather than the contractor's habits.

    Mission Support delivers embassy and diplomatic-mission guarding, armed and unarmed teams under framework or project arrangements, and structured risk-and-threat assessments that drive deployment design rather than sit on a shelf.

    Premium event protection — receptions, state visits, official functions — is handled with the same discipline. We coordinate with host-country services, support principals across the perimeter, and document the engagement to a standard that survives audit.

    Capabilities
    • Embassy and Diplomatic-Mission Guarding
    • Armed and Unarmed Security Personnel (framework / project)
    • Security Risk and Threat Assessment
    • Premium Event Protection (private and corporate)

    What is embassy security?

    Embassy security is the specialised protection of diplomatic premises, personnel, and principals operating under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. Unlike commercial or residential security, diplomatic security operates within a specific legal framework: the host country is obliged to protect diplomatic premises, but the mission retains the right to control access and manage its own internal security posture.

    In practice, embassy security combines static guarding at the perimeter and access points, close protection for the ambassador and senior diplomatic staff, event security for receptions and official functions, and a structured threat-and-risk assessment process that is reviewed at defined intervals.

    The Netherlands hosts over 150 diplomatic missions — one of the highest concentrations in Europe. This density, combined with The Hague's role as the seat of international legal institutions, creates a complex and elevated threat environment that requires specialist providers rather than general security contractors.

    When is specialist diplomatic security required?

    Diplomatic security requirements vary by mission, country of origin, and the current threat landscape. High-risk missions — those representing countries involved in active conflicts, subject to sanctions, or with known adversarial intelligence activity against them — require a consistently higher security posture. Medium-risk missions may operate with a lighter profile that surges for specific events.

    Event-driven requirements include state visits, national day receptions, high-profile arrivals and departures, and periods of political tension in the home country. Mission Support provides surge capacity for these events under framework agreements that define response times, team sizes, and escalation protocols in advance.

    Threat assessments are the starting point for any diplomatic security engagement. We review the mission's current posture, assess the gap between actual risk and deployed capability, and produce a prioritised set of recommendations. Missions are under no obligation to implement all recommendations immediately — the assessment is designed to support informed budget and resource decisions.

    Our approach to diplomatic mission security

    Mission Support operates in the diplomatic security environment with full awareness of the protocols, sensitivities, and legal constraints specific to this sector. Our personnel understand the difference between operating inside and outside the mission perimeter, the rules governing contact with host-country authorities, and the conduct expected when working alongside or in coordination with the Dienst Bewaken en Beveiligen (DBB) of the Dutch National Police.

    We do not subcontract diplomatic security assignments. Every operative deployed to an embassy or diplomatic residence works directly under Mission Support command, is vetted to the appropriate level, and is briefed on the specific mission protocol before deployment. Doctrine is consistent across shifts.

    Framework agreements are our preferred vehicle for diplomatic clients. A framework defines the security baseline, escalation triggers, surge capacity, and pricing in advance — so when a threat event occurs, the response is immediate and pre-approved rather than requiring a new procurement process under pressure.

    Sectors served
    Embassies & consulatesDiplomatic missionsAmbassadorial residencesInternational organisations
    FAQ

    Frequently asked questions

    What does embassy security include?+
    Embassy security typically includes perimeter and access-point guarding, close protection for the ambassador and senior diplomatic staff, security screening for visitors and deliveries, event security for official functions and national day receptions, and regular threat-and-risk assessments. Mission Support delivers all of these under a single framework contract or on a project basis.
    Can Mission Support provide armed security for embassies?+
    Yes, subject to the applicable licensing framework in the relevant jurisdiction. In the Netherlands, armed civilian security is regulated under the Wet particuliere beveiligingsorganisaties en recherchebureaus (Wpbr). We assess the legal requirements for each engagement and advise on the optimal combination of armed and unarmed personnel for the mission's threat profile.
    How does diplomatic security differ from regular security?+
    Diplomatic security operates within the framework of the Vienna Convention and requires personnel who understand host-country obligations, diplomatic immunity, and the specific protocols governing access to and conduct within diplomatic premises. Personnel must be vetted to a higher standard, and doctrine must be consistent across jurisdictions. Standard commercial security contractors rarely have this specialisation.
    Do you work with the Dutch National Police on diplomatic security?+
    Yes. Mission Support coordinates with the Dienst Bewaken en Beveiligen (DBB) of the Dutch National Police where applicable. The DBB is responsible for the protection of the highest-risk diplomatic principals in the Netherlands; we operate in complement to or in coordination with DBB coverage, providing the layers of security that sit below the national threshold or that the mission self-manages.
    What is a diplomatic security threat assessment?+
    A diplomatic security threat assessment is a structured evaluation of the risks facing a specific mission, based on the country of origin, the mission's public and political profile, the local threat environment, and the current security posture. The output is a prioritised set of recommendations covering personnel, physical measures, and procedural changes. Mission Support delivers threat assessments as a standalone service, independent of any deployment commitment.
    Does Mission Support provide security for ambassadorial residences?+
    Yes. Ambassadorial residences carry a different risk profile to the mission building — they are typically in residential areas, may host official functions, and the ambassador is present in a more personal capacity. We provide residential security design, static guarding, patrol, and close protection for the ambassador within the residence and during transit between the residence and the mission.
    Which types of organisations does Mission Support provide diplomatic security for?+
    Mission Support provides embassy and diplomatic security for embassies and consulates, ambassadorial residences, international legal institutions including the International Court of Justice and the ICC in The Hague, international organisations including NATO and EU bodies, and NGOs and multilateral funds with diplomatic status. Most of our diplomatic clients are based in The Hague, which hosts over 150 diplomatic missions — one of the highest concentrations of diplomatic presence in Europe. We also deliver diplomatic security services in Amsterdam and at other locations across the Netherlands.
    How quickly can Mission Support mobilise embassy security?+
    For a new diplomatic engagement we schedule an initial threat assessment and site survey within 48-72 hours of first contact. Based on that we produce a security advisory and a deployment proposal. Standing deployments can typically be operational within 5-10 working days of contract signing. For acute situations — where a mission needs immediate temporary security reinforcement — we provide emergency solutions deployable on the same or next day.
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