The State Division is contemplating closing 27 consulates and embassies the world over as a part of the so-called Division of Authorities Effectivity’s finances cuts.
Based on an inside memo obtained by CNN, the division can also be eyeing a transfer to drag sources from U.S. diplomatic missions in Somalia and Iraq, regardless of having ongoing counterterrorism efforts in each of these international locations.
A State Division spokesperson informed Day by day Kos that “operations continue as normal,” although they weren’t in a position to affirm nor deny the opportunity of future closures.
“The State Department continues to assess our global programs and posture to ensure we are best positioned to address modern challenges on behalf of the American people,” they informed Day by day Kos.
In different phrases, nothing is off the desk.
Consulates are sometimes low-staffed businesses that present assist to Individuals overseas with issues like passports and visas. Regardless that Secretary of State Marco Rubio hasn’t publicly signed off on any closures but, he has an fascinating historical past with a number of the international locations who made the listing.
One of many consulates is in South Sudan, the place Rubio not too long ago revoked all U.S. visas after its authorities refused to take a deportee who wasn’t even from South Sudan, however a citizen of the Democratic Republic of the Congo—one other nation on the listing to lose its consulate.
Final week, Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau argued that South Sudan’s authorities issued the person emergency journey papers to the US stating that he was a citizen of their nation. Due to this, he mentioned, South Sudan’s argument was “legally irrelevant,” they usually must settle for the person no matter newfound data.
In the end, South Sudan accepted the deportee, however the US didn’t reinstate visas.
One other nation on the listing is South Africa. Final month, Ebrahim Rasool, the U.S. ambassador to South Africa, was booted from the US for criticizing President Donald Trump.
“Emrahim Rasool is a race-baiting politician who hates America and hates [Trump]. We have nothing to discuss with him and so he is considered PERSONA NON GRATA,” Rubio wrote on X.
From selecting fights with Canada to slapping tariffs on U.S. allies throughout the board, the Trump administration has been inching nearer and nearer to an isolationist international coverage strategy.
Extra so, the Trump administration has moved to chop the U.S. Company for Worldwide Improvement as soon as and for all. And, regardless of claiming that it’s onerous on medication, the Trump administration minimize funding for USAID that was used to battle drug trafficking.
Whereas the Trump staff claims to be working to make the federal government extra environment friendly, the motives behind their cuts and the impacts that observe show another motive: to obey Trump’s private agenda.
