The government of United States President Donald Trump is reportedly weighing the closure of about 30 American embassies and consulates worldwide, with some African countries likely to be affected.
A report by CNN, citing an internal memo from the U.S. State Department, revealed that diplomatic missions in the Republic of Congo, Central African Republic, Lesotho, and South Sudan are among those recommended for closure.
Also on the list is a U.S. consulate located in South Africa. In total, the document proposes shutting down 10 embassies and 17 consulates across Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Caribbean.
In Europe, affected locations include five consulates in France, two in Germany, two in Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as posts in the United Kingdom and South Korea.
The internal proposal, which is part of a wider cost-cutting effort led by the Department of Government Efficiency—allegedly backed by tech billionaire Elon Musk—is aimed at reducing the size and spending of various federal agencies, including the State Department.
The document further suggests that American presence in countries like Somalia and Iraq be scaled back, despite their importance in the U.S. fight against terrorism.
As at the time of filing this report, the U.S. Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, has not officially approved or commented on the proposal.
The State Department has also refused to speak on the leaked document.
