President Donald Trump is pushing forward with a sweeping plan to drastically reduce the United States’ diplomatic footprint abroad, and Africa is at the center of the proposed cuts.
According to an internal memo from the State Department, recently reviewed by The New York Times, the Trump administration is preparing to close 10 embassies and 17 consulates around the world. Among those targeted are six U.S. embassies in Africa—located in the Central African Republic, Eritrea, Gambia, Lesotho, the Republic of Congo, and South Sudan. The responsibilities of these embassies would reportedly be transferred to nearby missions in neighboring countries.
The move is part of a broader effort by President Trump to trim federal expenditures and restructure America’s diplomatic strategy. However, it has sparked concern both within and outside diplomatic circles, particularly over what such a pullback might mean for U.S. influence in regions where it has traditionally maintained a strategic edge.
“Reducing our physical presence weakens not only diplomatic engagement but also our ability to understand and respond to regional dynamics,” said one senior foreign policy analyst. “In places like Africa, where diplomatic visibility matters, this sends a message that America is stepping back.”
Critics argue that the proposed closures could undermine national security and create a vacuum that rivals like China are eager to fill. Over the past decade, China has expanded its influence across Africa through trade, infrastructure investment, and military partnerships. With fewer American diplomats on the ground, experts warn that the U.S. risks ceding both political and economic ground.
The internal memo also lists embassy closures beyond Africa, including those in Luxembourg and Malta in Europe, as well as Grenada and the Maldives. A number of U.S. consulates are also being considered for closure—five in France alone, including Marseille and Lyon, along with posts in Germany, Greece, Italy, Portugal, the United Kingdom, and others.
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Outside of Europe, proposed consulate closures include Douala in Cameroon, Durban in South Africa, Medan in Indonesia, and Busan in South Korea.
The plan, though still subject to congressional approval, reflects President Trump’s continued emphasis on domestic priorities and cost-cutting measures across federal agencies. It also signals a shift toward a more centralized, less geographically distributed diplomatic model—one that some believe could hurt America’s standing in global affairs.
As the administration presses forward, questions remain about how these changes will affect long-term U.S. relationships with host nations—particularly those in Africa where many governments are already grappling with instability, development challenges, and growing international competition.
For now, the world is watching to see whether this proposal becomes policy—or if resistance from lawmakers and career diplomats will force the administration to rethink its approach.
