US to shut five diplomatic missions in Canada, others

The United States has notified Congress of plans to close five diplomatic missions in Canada, Japan, Indonesia, Cameroon and Grenada in a rare move to reduce its global diplomatic footprint.

According to Reuters, the State Department informed key congressional committees late last week that it intends to shut its missions in St George’s, Grenada; Nagoya, Japan; Medan, Indonesia; Douala, Cameroon; and Winnipeg, Canada.

The proposed closures mark one of the few instances in which the US has downsized multiple overseas missions outside the context of a major geopolitical crisis.

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The move follows broader efforts by the administration of President Donald Trump to streamline the federal bureaucracy under its “America First” agenda.

Reuters reported that the State Department had begun considering the closure of nearly a dozen foreign missions early last year, while the White House Office of Management and Budget reportedly pushed for an even more extensive plan targeting up to 30 missions.

Some administration officials have argued that smaller diplomatic posts provide limited strategic value and are not cost-effective.

However, critics, including Democratic lawmakers and former foreign policy officials, have warned that reducing America’s diplomatic presence overseas could weaken US global influence and create opportunities for rivals such as China and Russia to expand their reach.

Although the State Department underwent a major restructuring last year, eliminating dozens of bureaus and hundreds of positions, no foreign missions were closed at the time.

Responding to enquiries, the department neither confirmed nor denied the planned closures but said it remained focused on maintaining an efficient and effective diplomatic network while adhering to congressional notification requirements.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio has defended the administration’s cost-cutting measures, describing them as necessary reforms to improve the department’s efficiency.

Of the missions affected, the post in St George’s serves as an embassy, while the offices in Medan, Winnipeg and Nagoya are consulates. The mission in Douala operates as an embassy branch office, representing US interests outside the host country’s capital.

During the administration of former President Joe Biden, the US expanded its diplomatic presence in the Pacific region as part of efforts to counter China’s growing influence.

While China does not maintain diplomatic missions in Douala or Winnipeg, it has diplomatic representation in St George’s, Nagoya and Medan.