The Trump administration has notified Congress of plans to shut five smaller US diplomatic missions in Africa, Asia and the Western Hemisphere, even as it moves to reopen posts in Libya and Syria and has restored the embassy in Venezuela.
The department said the move will save about $4.4 million annually, reports ABC News.
According to State Department notices sent to lawmakers last week, closures will include the embassy in Grenada; consulates in Nagoya, Japan, and Medan, Indonesia; the American Presence Post in Winnipeg, Canada; and an embassy branch office in Douala, Cameroon.
Staffing at the affected posts is minimal: Grenada and Nagoya each have one American and five local employees; Medan has four US staff and 47 locals; Winnipeg has two local staff; and Douala has 14.
Earlier this year, the department also announced the permanent closure of the consulate in Peshawar, Pakistan, once the nearest US mission to Afghanistan after the 2021 troop withdrawal.
The steps are part of a broader effort to streamline operations while investing in reopening embassies in Caracas, Damascus and Tripoli to re‑establish America’s diplomatic presence after years of upheaval.
