An internal memo from the US State Department, obtained by The New York Times, has unveiled a sweeping proposal to shut down 10 embassies and 17 consulates worldwide as part of a significant diplomatic restructuring effort aimed at reducing operational costs by 20 percent.
The proposed closures come amid broader budget-cutting initiatives and have raised concern among analysts, particularly regarding America’s presence in strategically sensitive regions.
Major Diplomatic Downsizing Across Continents
The plan details the closure of six embassies across Africa, including those in the Central African Republic, Eritrea, Gambia, Lesotho, the Republic of the Congo, and South Sudan.
In Europe, the embassies in Luxembourg and Malta are slated for closure, alongside the embassy in Grenada in the Caribbean and one in the Maldives, located in the Indian Ocean.
Seventeen consulates are also expected to be affected.
These include:
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Five in France
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Two out of five in Germany
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Additional consulates in Thessaloniki (Greece), Florence (Italy), Ponta Delgada (Portugal), and Edinburgh (Scotland)
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Four outside Europe: Douala (Cameroon), Medan (Indonesia), Durban (South Africa), and Busan (South Korea)
What This Means for Cameroon
The potential closure of the US consulate in Douala would shift all consular services to the US Embassy in Yaoundé.
For now, Cameroon remains off the list of countries where the main US embassy is expected to shut down.
Strategic and Human Impacts Under Scrutiny
“This decision is part of a broader austerity policy by the US government to optimize diplomatic resources,” the memo states.
However, experts warn of long-term geopolitical consequences.
The closures could significantly affect:
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American citizens residing or traveling in the affected countries
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Diplomatic relationships between the United States and the host nations
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The US’s strategic footprint, especially in regions where its presence is already limited
Critics argue that reducing physical diplomatic ties, particularly in Africa, may create a vacuum in areas where US influence is crucial, both politically and economically.
The full implications of the move remain to be seen, but the announcement is already triggering serious debate within international circles.
Source: camer.be
