US to Shut Five Consulates as Critics Fear China Could Fill Diplomatic Vacuum
State department informs Congress of planned closures in Canada, Grenada, Japan, Indonesia and Cameroon
TL;DR
- The US State Department is closing five foreign consulates and missions in Grenada, Japan, Indonesia, Cameroon, and Canada.
- The closures are justified on cost grounds following a reassessment of US bilateral relationships.
- Democrats criticize the move, warning that China, which has a diplomatic presence in some of these locations, will exploit the vacuum.
- Critics argue the operating costs of these facilities are a small fraction of the State Department's budget.
- The closure of the Winnipeg consulate has drawn criticism in Canada, where it facilitated trade and investment.
- The US has over half of its ambassadorial posts unfilled, including in key countries.