The U.S. State Department is closing consulates in Canada, Japan and Indonesia, according to a report from Global News published Tuesday. The move is part of a broader effort to shutter five smaller U.S. consulates across Africa, Asia and the Western Hemisphere, the Toronto Star reported.
Global News did not specify which consulates would be affected, but the National Post identified the Winnipeg consulate in Canada as one of the locations slated for closure. The other Canadian, Japanese and Indonesian missions were not named in the reporting.
The closures appear to align with the Trump administration’s push to reduce the U.S. diplomatic footprint, as described by the Toronto Star. Newsweek noted that the decision to close consulates under an “America First” approach may cost more than it saves, though the outlet did not provide further details in the available summary.
The State Department has not issued a public statement on the closures as of the time of the report. The exact timeline for the shutdowns and the number of staff affected were not disclosed in the material reviewed.
This development follows a pattern of U.S. diplomatic downsizing under the current administration, though the specific rationale for choosing these locations remains unclear. The closures could affect visa services and consular assistance for U.S. citizens in those regions.
What to watch next: Whether the State Department confirms the full list of affected consulates and provides a timeline for the transition of services.
