US President Donald Trump has decided to close at least five more American diplomatic missions overseas, marking another step in his administration's effort to reduce the country's diplomatic presence around the world.
According to a Reuters report, the US Department of State has informed Congress about the planned closures as part of the administration's ongoing restructuring of America's diplomatic network.
Five Diplomatic Missions to Shut Down
The latest round of closures includes the US Embassy in St George's, Grenada, along with consulates in Medan, Indonesia, Winnipeg, Canada, and Nagoya, Japan. The administration will also close the embassy branch office in Douala, Cameroon.
The move follows a broader effort by the Trump administration to reduce the size of the State Department. Last year, the administration shut down dozens of bureaus and dismissed hundreds of diplomats.
More Embassy Closures May Follow
The latest decision may be only the beginning of a much larger downsizing plan. The Trump administration is reportedly considering the closure of up to 30 US embassies and consulates worldwide as part of its "America First" policy.
Critics have argued that reducing America's diplomatic network on such a large scale could weaken US global influence and create long-term consequences that may be difficult to reverse.
Last year, the administration proposed closing 10 embassies, 17 consulates and three other diplomatic missions, including facilities in West Asia and Africa, regions where the United States plays a major role in counter-terrorism operations against jihadist groups.
China Expands While US Pulls Back
The reduction in US diplomatic missions comes as China continues to expand its global diplomatic presence. While the United States is closing embassies, consulates and government programmes, China has steadily increased its diplomatic outreach under President Xi Jinping.
The Trump administration has also ended programmes such as US Aid and reduced the number of American diplomats stationed abroad.
Experts say these decisions leave gaps that China can use to strengthen its influence, particularly in strategically important regions such as the Indo-Pacific and West Asia.
China Now Leads in Diplomatic Reach
China has already overtaken the United States in the number of diplomatic missions worldwide. By 2024, China operated 274 diplomatic missions, compared with 271 maintained by the United States.
Analysts believe that continued reductions in the US diplomatic network could further increase Beijing's international influence.
Expert Warns of Growing Chinese Influence
Experts believe America's shrinking diplomatic footprint could allow China to strengthen its position across several regions.
“As President Trump withdraws from Europe by reducing commitment to European security and in Africa by cutting down humanitarian assistance by nearly shutting down US Aid operations, China is set to make renewed outreach to these regions and replace the United States as the leading player,” said Singh, a scholar of China and Professor at the Department of Political Science, Banaras Hindu University.