The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump is reportedly considering the closure of nearly 30 embassies and consulates across the globe, including several located in Africa, as part of a broader initiative to scale down the United States’ diplomatic footprint.
According to a CNN report released on Wednesday, citing a leaked internal State Department document, proposed closures include American embassies in the Republic of Congo, Central African Republic, Lesotho, and South Sudan. A consulate in South Africa is also reportedly on the list.
“The document recommends shutting down 10 embassies and 17 consulates,” CNN reported. “Many of the affected locations are in Europe and Africa, along with others in Asia and the Caribbean.”
Among the embassies proposed for closure are those in Malta, Luxembourg, Lesotho, the Republic of Congo, Central African Republic, and South Sudan. The document also names several consulates, including five in France, two in Germany, two in Bosnia and Herzegovina, one in the United Kingdom, and one in South Africa.
This proposed downsizing is said to be part of a cost-cutting strategy being driven by the Trump administration, influenced in part by the Elon Musk-supported Department of Government Efficiency. The overarching goal is to significantly reduce the size and spending of federal agencies, including the State Department.
The document further recommends scaling back the U.S. presence in countries like Somalia and Iraq, which have long been focal points in the U.S. counterterrorism agenda.
As of now, there has been no official confirmation that Secretary of State Marco Rubio has approved the plan. A spokesperson for the State Department declined to comment on the leaked information.
