Trump administration considers closing nearly 30 U.S embassies and consulates in Africa, others amid tariff war

According to an internal State Department document reviewed by CNN, the recommendations were prepared by the department’s undersecretary for management.

It suggests the closure of 10 embassies and 17 consulates, primarily located in Europe and Africa.

Diplomatic outposts earmarked for closure include embassies in Malta, Luxembourg, Lesotho, the Republic of Congo, the Central African Republic, and South Sudan.

These recommendations include the creation of “FLEX-style light footprint posts,” which would operate with minimal staff and responsibilities.

Furthermore, the document suggests consolidating consulate support into specialized units at larger missions in countries like Japan and Canada as a potential model for efficiency.

It remains unclear whether Secretary of State Marco Rubio has officially endorsed the proposed closures.

“I would suggest that you check with the White House and the president of the US as they continue to work on their budget plan,” Bruce said during a daily press briefing.

She dismissed some of the circulating reports as speculative, attributing them to “leaked documents from unknown sources.” 

According to the State Department document, ...s identified for closure were evaluated based on several criteria, including feedback from regional bureaus, interagency input, consular workload, cost efficiency, facility conditions, and security assessments. These factors were used to determine which missions could be consolidated or scaled back without compromising overall effectiveness.

Some foreign policy experts warn that the closures could limit US capacity to engage diplomatically and respond to crises in key regions, particularly as rival powers like China and Russia continue to expand their global footprints.

Embassies and consulates serve as vital components of US foreign policy, providing services such as visa processing and assistance to American citizens abroad.