General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Leon Panetta is a scary, scary man [View all]MADem
(135,425 posts)Since there are few (but some) foreign forces who are permanently stationed in USA, though there are many more who are here on temporary duty, usually for training, most fall under a Visiting Forces Agreement when they are in USA. However, those on PCS orders or who are here under a NATO imprimatur if they are on orders from a NATO nation fall under a SOFA arrangement (we have a multilateral arrangement).
People who are military and are assigned to a country via an embassy receive diplomatic immunity, which is, in essence, the same protections as a SOFA. It is also common for State to negotiate a SOFA concurrent with a specific military exercise or aid effort, with defined timelines. These are less problematic, politically speaking, than long term agreements.