The U.S. State Department has notified Congress of plans to close five diplomatic missions overseas, marking a rare reduction of America's global diplomatic presence that is not linked to a specific geopolitical crisis, according to people familiar with the matter.
The planned closures include the U.S. Embassy in St. George's, Grenada, the consulates in Nagoya, Japan; Medan, Indonesia; and Winnipeg, Canada; as well as the embassy branch office in Douala, Cameroon. The notification was reportedly sent to congressional committees late last week, Reuters reports.
The move follows broader efforts by the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump to streamline the federal government under its "America First" agenda. Early last year, the State Department considered closing nearly a dozen diplomatic missions, while the White House Office of Management and Budget reportedly pushed for an even larger reduction of up to 30 foreign posts.
Supporters of the cost-cutting measures, including U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, argue that downsizing is necessary to make the State Department more efficient and reduce bureaucracy.
Critics, including Democratic lawmakers and former foreign policy officials, warn that reducing the U.S. diplomatic network, alongside the dismantling of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), could weaken Washington's global influence and create opportunities for rivals such as China and Russia to expand their presence.
Although the State Department underwent a major restructuring last year, eliminating dozens of bureaus and hundreds of positions, no diplomatic missions were closed during that overhaul.
Responding to questions on August 2, the State Department neither confirmed nor denied the reported closures. In a statement, it said it was focused on maintaining an efficient and effective diplomatic footprint while adhering to congressional notification procedures.
Among the missions affected, the post in St. George's is a U.S. embassy, while those in Medan, Winnipeg and Nagoya are consulates. The office in Douala operates as an embassy branch office, representing U.S. interests outside the host country's capital.
The planned closures contrast with the previous administration of former President Joe Biden, which expanded the U.S. diplomatic network by opening several missions in the Pacific region amid strategic competition with China.
China maintains diplomatic missions in St. George's, Nagoya and Medan, but does not have a functioning diplomatic presence in Douala or Winnipeg.
By Sabina Mammadli
