Why the US plans to close five diplomatic missions across Canada, Japan and beyond

Washington: The United States is moving ahead with plans to shut five diplomatic missions in Canada, Japan, Indonesia, Cameroon and Grenada as part of a broader effort to reduce its global diplomatic footprint and streamline government operations.

According to Reuters, the US State Department has informed congressional committees of its proposal to close the US Embassy in St George's, Grenada; consulates in Nagoya (Japan), Medan (Indonesia) and Winnipeg (Canada); and its embassy branch office in Douala, Cameroon.

The notifications were sent to Congress late last week, according to people familiar with the matter. The proposal has not yet been made public.

The move marks one of the rare occasions when Washington has sought to reduce multiple overseas diplomatic missions outside the context of an international conflict or security crisis.

Why is the US closing the missions?

The proposed closures stem from a broader effort that began during the Trump administration to reduce the size of the federal government under President Donald Trump's "America First" agenda.

The State Department had reportedly examined shutting nearly a dozen overseas missions, while the White House Office of Management and Budget pushed for an even larger reduction of about 30 diplomatic posts, arguing that several smaller missions were no longer essential or cost-effective.

When asked about the plan, the State Department did not confirm the specific closures but said it remained committed to maintaining an "efficient and effective" diplomatic network while following congressional notification requirements.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has defended the administration's cost-cutting efforts, saying they are intended to streamline what many consider an overly large and bureaucratic department.

Concerns over US global influence

The proposed closures have drawn criticism from Democrats and several former foreign policy and national security officials, who argue that reducing America's diplomatic presence overseas could weaken US influence at a time of growing geopolitical competition.

Critics also contend that scaling back diplomatic missions, along with the dismantling of the US Agency for International Development (USAID), could create opportunities for rivals such as China and Russia to expand their influence.

According to Reuters, while China does not maintain diplomatic missions in Douala or Winnipeg, it has an established diplomatic presence in St George's, Nagoya and Medan, where the United States is considering closures.