US Plans Major Cuts to Diplomacy in Africa, Restructures Global Strategy

A leaked draft White House executive order proposes a significant reduction of the United States' diplomatic presence in Africa, including the elimination of State Department offices focused on climate change, democracy, and human rights. The proposed measure, characterized as a cost-cutting initiative aligned with an 'America First Strategic Doctrine,' would reorganize the State Department into four regional bureaus, eliminating the Africa Bureau and creating a Special Envoy Office for African Affairs reporting directly to the White House’s National Security Council. All non-essential embassies and consulates in sub-Saharan Africa would be closed, with remaining missions consolidated and focused primarily on counterterrorism and the strategic extraction of natural resources. The draft also calls for a substantial downscaling of the US diplomatic presence in Canada. While Secretary of State Marco Rubio publicly dismissed reports about the draft order as 'fake news,' multiple outlets report that a copy of the draft has been reviewed by AFP. Critics, including representatives of US diplomats, warn the move could severely undermine American diplomatic influence and soft power abroad.