The Trump administration is reportedly considering closing nearly 30 embassies and, globally, including several in Africa, as part of a plan to reduce the country’s diplomatic presence abroad.
This was disclosed in an internal U.S. State Department document, obtained by CNN.
The document states that embassies in the Republic of Congo, Central African Republic, Lesotho and South Sudan are proposed to close. The US consulate in South Africa may also be closed.
“The document recommends the closure of 10 embassies and 17 consulates. Many positions are in Europe and Africa, although they also include locations in Asia and the Caribbean. These positions include embassies in Malta, Luxembourg, Lesotho, the Republic of Congo, the Republic of Congo, the Central African Republic and South Sudan.
“The list also includes five consulates in France, two in Germany, Bosnia and Herzegovina, one in the UK, one in South Africa and one in South Korea,” the report said.
The proposal is part of a broader effort by the Trump-led administration, reportedly affected by the government’s efficiency department backed by Elon Musk to significantly reduce the size and spending of federal agencies, including the State Department.
Internal documents also show that the core of U.S. counterterrorism efforts are reduced in countries such as Somalia and Iraq.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio has not been formally confirmed to have approved the proposal.
