The Trump administration is reviewing a plan to close roughly 30 overseas embassies and consulates, aiming for significant restructuring of its diplomatic footprint. The closures include 10 embassies and 17 consulates across Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Caribbean.
The proposed closures impact missions in countries like Malta, Luxembourg, Lesotho, and others, with responsibilities potentially transferred to neighboring diplomatic posts. The document cites factors like regional bureau feedback, consular workload, costs, facility conditions, and security ratings as the basis for the recommendations. The administration's push for efficiency and cost reduction is a driving force.
The plan includes 'resizing' diplomatic missions in countries like Somalia and Iraq, and proposes model consolidations of support units. It also suggests 'FLEX-style' posts with limited staffing and 'dual-hatted' leadership in multiple missions. While some ambassadorial nominees have been announced, Secretary of State Rubio's approval remains unclear.
The closures raise questions about the impact on vital services like visa processing and citizen assistance. The role of these embassies and consulates in information gathering and diplomatic efforts, particularly in countering nations like China, are also factors to be considered.