Trump Brings In Major Diplomatic Shake-Up, Recalls Nearly 30 Diplomats Worldwide - Which Countries Will It Impact?

(MENAFN- Live Mint) In a move to reshape US diplomacy, the Trump administration a recalling nearly 30 career diplomats from ambassadorial and other senior embassy posts. This move aims to reshape the country's diplomatic posture abroad to align with US President Donald Trump's“America First” agenda.

Two State Department officials informed AP that the chiefs of mission in nearly 29 countries were sent notices last week, informing that that their tenures would conclude in January. This diplomatic shake-up affected the following countries:

• The diplomat replacement drive weighed heavily on Africa as it is the continent most affected by the removals. Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Gabon, Ivory Coast, Madagascar, Mauritius, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Somalia and Uganda are the 13 African countries from which ambassadors will be removed.
• Asia secured the second spot in terms of diplomatic shake-up, with ambassadorial replacements coming to six countries, including Fiji, Laos, the Marshall Islands, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines and Vietnam.
• Europe followed Asia in the move to reshape US diplomacy. Armenia, Macedonia, Montenegro and Slovakia are the four European countries affected by this strategic change.
• In the Middle East, Algeria and Egypt will see change in diplomatic positions.
• Other countries that will be affected, include Nepal, Sri Lanka, Guatemala and Suriname.

All of the diplomats that will be replaced were posted during the Biden administration. In the early months of Trump's second term, the initial purge targeted mainly political appointees. On Wednesday, officials in Washington issued notices to diplomats, declaring their imminent departure.

Notably, ambassadors typically remain posted for three to four years but serve at the pleasure of the president. According to the officials, those affected by the shake-up will not lose their foreign service jobs instead they will be returning to the country for other assignments if they wish to take them.

The State Department called this diplomat replacement drive“a standard process in any administration” as it defended the changes. According to the State Department, an ambassador is“a personal representative of the president and it is the president's right to ensure that he has individuals in these countries who advance the America First agenda.”

(With inputs from AP)

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