In fresh days there have been reports of plans to close any American consulates in Europe. According to Reuters, the list of establishments at hazard of decommissioning includes Hamburg, Strasbourg and Florence. Most of them are located in Western Europe.
Among the cities whose consulates are threatened with liquidation are besides Leipzig, Dusseldorf in Germany, Bordeaux, Rennes, Lyon and Strasbourg in France, and Ponta Delgada in Portugal and Belo Horizonte in Brazil. Officials close to the case have informed that the list is not final and may change.
The U.S. Department of State is besides considering merging its offices at the Washington headquarters, peculiarly those working in the areas of human rights, the exile crisis, women's rights and actions to counter human trafficking. In February of that year, Reuters reported that American diplomatic missions were asked to consider reducing both American and locally employed workers by at least 10%.
U.S. president Donald Trump issued an executive order in the same period to reorganize the U.S. abroad service. This decision is linked to the operation of the Ministry (department) of State productivity (DOGE), which is headed by billionaire Elon Musk. Officials reported that the State Department notified legislature on Monday of plans to close its mission in the city of Gaziantep, in southeastern Turkey. This facility supported humanitarian activities in northern Syria.
According to information on the State Department website, there are more than 270 U.S. diplomatic missions worldwide, employing a full of nearly 70,000 employees. Of which approx. 45 000 are local employees, 13 000 are abroad service members and 11 000 are civilian servants.
Many of these facilities have a long past and played an crucial function in the improvement of relaciones between the United States and another countries. The closure of these consulates can have a crucial impact on the economy and the local community. For example, the Hamburg consulate is 1 of the largest in Germany and employs over 100 employees.
The US State Department argues that the closure of consulates is essential due to the request for savings and reorganisations. However, this decision was outraged by many politicians and residents of the cities where they were located. Many people are afraid that the closure of consulates may undermine the safety and stableness of the region.
In this context, it is worth noting that the United States has a long tradition of supporting democracy and human rights worldwide. Closure of consulates can be seen as a step backwards in this area. Moreover, this decision may have a negative impact on the economy and global relations.
It is worth emphasizing that the U.S. State Department should consider alternate solutions to preserve the current consulates and improve their operations. This may include cooperation with another countries or global organisations to increase productivity and reduce costs.
In conclusion, plans to close American consulates in Europe are a serious and needing careful consideration. The U.S. State Department should take all steps to safeguard the safety and economical interests of the United States while respecting the rights and interests of another countries and communities.
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US consulates closed in Europe
