US State Department to close consulates in Canada, Japan and Indonesia, sources say

The US State Department has informed Congress of its intention to close five diplomatic missions abroad, according to sources familiar with the notice. The planned closures include posts in St George's, Grenada; Nagoya, Japan; Medan, Indonesia; Douala, Cameroon; and Winnipeg, Canada. These closures, which have not been publicly reported, mark a rare instance of the United States downscaling its global diplomatic presence without a specific geopolitical trigger.

Earlier this year, the Trump administration began discussions about shutting down nearly a dozen foreign missions as part of a broader effort to align the US bureaucracy with its "America First" policy. The White House Office of Management and Budget had even proposed a more extensive closure program, aiming to eliminate up to 30 foreign missions.

Critics from both parties and former officials suggest that downsizing the US diplomatic footprint could weaken American leadership and create opportunities for rivals such as China and Russia. Despite undergoing a significant internal restructuring last year, the State Department did not close any foreign missions. When contacted, the State Department declined to confirm the closures but emphasized its commitment to maintaining an efficient and effective diplomatic footprint, in line with congressional notification protocols.

The State Department's mission in St George's, Grenada, is an embassy, while the posts in Medan, Winnipeg, and Nagoya are consulates, and the one in Douala is a branch office of the embassy. During the Biden administration, the US has expanded its global presence, establishing new missions in the Pacific region as it competes for influence with China.