US considers closing embassy in Maldives amid diplomatic cutbacks

The United States is reportedly considering shutting down the US embassy in the Maldives as part of a broader effort to scale back America’s diplomatic presence worldwide, according to a memo obtained by The New York Times.

The undated internal State Department memo outlines plans to close 10 embassies and 17 consulates across the globe, including the one in Malé, and to reduce staff or consolidate operations at other missions. If implemented, this would reduce the American footprint abroad — a move that critics say could weaken US influence in strategic regions, including South Asia.

“The memo also recommends closing two small embassies in Europe — in Luxembourg and Malta — as well as the diplomatic missions in Grenada and the Maldives, and moving their portfolios to nearby countries, too,” the New York Times reported.

According to the Times, the proposed closures are “in keeping with President Trump’s plans to reduce federal spending across the government,” and reflect a broader vision from State Department leadership to potentially cut nearly 50 percent of the department’s spending.

However, the memo has reportedly triggered concern among some US officials and foreign policy experts who fear that Washington is “ceding vital diplomatic space to China,” especially in regions where the US has traditionally maintained a stronger presence.

“If enacted, the proposed cuts would mean that the United States would have less of a diplomatic presence than China in Europe… [and] fall further behind China’s presence in Africa and East Asia,” the Times noted, citing data from the Lowy Institute.

There has been no official comment yet from either the US embassy or Maldivian authorities regarding the proposed closure.