US plans to close several consulates in Western Europe

The US State Department is planning to close dozens of consulates, mainly in Western Europe, this summer and plans to lay off many local workers at hundreds of US missions.

The New York Times on March 6 quoted US officials as saying that the US State Department planned to close dozens of consulates this summer and was considering closing more representative offices and laying off staff abroad.

Officials say this could be a blow to the US government 's efforts to build partnerships and gather intelligence.

According to three officials briefed on an internally circulated memo, the list of dozens of named consulates shows the closures are primarily in Western Europe.

The department also plans to lay off many local workers working for hundreds of US missions.

These workers make up two-thirds of the mission's workforce and, in many countries, form the basis of U.S. diplomats' knowledge of their locales.

The downsizing is part of President Donald Trump’s broader cuts to the federal government and his “America First” foreign policy, in which the United States has ended or curtailed ways that have played a key role in increasing U.S. influence globally, including through measures that impact democracy, human rights and aid.

The moves come at a time when China, America's main rival, has surpassed the US in the number of diplomatic posts globally.

China has built close relationships between countries, especially in Asia and Africa, and has greater power in international organizations./.

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/my-co-ke-hoach-dong-cua-nhieu-lanh-su-quan-o-tay-au-post1019151.vnp