The US embassy in London has declared itself “exempt” from the capital's congestion charge, an embassy spokesperson confirmed.
The embassy, based in Nine Elms, tops the list of unpaid congestion charges, with Transport for London (TfL) showing it owes more than £14 million to the British public.
The embassy's debts increased over a period of twenty years between 2003 and December 31, 2023. This figure is significantly higher than any other figure on the list of 26 released by TfL today, including another eye-watering eight-figure sum.
TfL has expressed its disapproval of those who have not paid the charge and plans to continue to pay the debts. The agency also plans to escalate the matter to the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
However, the US embassy has hit back, insisting it has the right to avoid the charge on vehicles in central London, according to the Express. A statement to Express.co.uk from a US Embassy spokesperson outlined their position that diplomatic missions should not be subject to the congestion charge.
Referring to the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations as a legal basis, this position was substantiated in a statement claiming: “In accordance with international law, as reflected in the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, our position is that the congestion charge is a tax from which diplomatic missions are exempt.”
It further claimed that “our long-standing position is shared by many other diplomatic missions in London.”
The US Embassy shares a partnership with the Japanese Embassy and also has an equally startling debt. Transport for London (TfL) announced the staggering figures, putting Japan's total debt at a staggering £10 million, only narrowly eclipsed by the Office of the High Commissioner for India's third-place figure of £8.5 million.
Britain's outstanding accounts from abroad include the Chinese embassy, which is stuck with a £7.9 million bill, and the Russian embassy, which has a £5.9 million deficit. Between them, these embassies have collected a staggering total of £139 million in unpaid fees, leading to a contentious diplomatic row.
The government is unfazed by the Foreign Office's calls and remains firmly behind TfL's position to collect the contribution. According to the Daily Telegraph, ministers are reportedly of the opinion that legal reporting does not offer diplomats any exceptions, even though they have so far failed to take the dispute to the International Court of Justice (ICJ).