The U.S. State Department has informed Congress of a plan to close five consulates in Canada, Grenada, Japan, Indonesia and Cameroon. The initiative is part of efforts to cut costs and reorganize the U.S. diplomatic presence in various countries around the world.
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Under the plan, the consulates in St. George’s, Grenada; Nagoya, Japan; Medan, Indonesia; Douala, Cameroon; and Winnipeg, Canada, will cease operations.
The decision is linked to the reform of the State Department under Secretary of State Marco Rubio, following Donald Trump’s return to the White House in January 2025.
The plan has drawn criticism from Democrats. They say reducing the U.S. presence in these countries could pave the way for China to expand its diplomatic influence.
Senator Jeanne Shaheen pointed out that Beijing already has diplomatic missions in several of the countries where the United States intends to close its missions. She warned that creating this vacuum could be used to undermine U.S. interests.
Opposition has also been voiced in Canada, where the closure of the consulate in Winnipeg is seen as a development that could harm economic and diplomatic cooperation between the two countries.
Brad Kirbyson, a former consulate official, said the absence of a diplomatic mission in central Canada would complicate efforts to maintain ties with the region.
The U.S. State Department has defended the measure, arguing that the aim is to build a more efficient and functional diplomatic network. It said that legal procedures for notifying Congress are also being followed in the process.
The closure of these consulates is part of a broader reduction in U.S. diplomatic operations. Over the past year, the State Department eliminated more than 1,300 jobs, while more than half of U.S. ambassadorial posts around the world remain vacant, including positions in strategic countries such as Germany, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan.
