# US to close five consulates as critics warn China could fill diplomatic vacuum

https://mins.news/en/item/14460

- The Guardian, 2026-08-05 19:20 UTC
- Politics
- Original: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/aug/05/us-state-department-consulate-closures

> The US State Department has notified Congress of plans to close five consulates and missions in Canada, Grenada, Japan, Indonesia and Cameroon. The proposed closures span Asia, Africa, North America and the Caribbean. Officials are defending the move on cost grounds after reassessing bilateral relationships with several countries. Critics warn that reducing the US diplomatic presence could leave a vacuum for China to fill. The plans follow Donald Trump’s return to the White House in January 2025.

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