The Trump administration has announced the recall of nearly 30 career diplomats from ambassadorial and other senior embassy positions as part of a reshaping of the United States’ diplomatic posture abroad, prioritizing officials fully aligned with the ‘America First’ agenda.
Officials said the chiefs of mission in at least 29 countries were informed last week that their tenures would conclude in January.
Most of those affected were appointed during the Biden administration but had initially remained through the early months of Trump’s second term.
While they are being recalled from their overseas posts, they retain their status in the foreign service and may take on assignments in Washington, The Guardian reports.
Ambassadors serve at the pleasure of the president, typically remaining in their posts for three to four years. The State Department defended the recalls as standard procedure, noting that ambassadors act as personal representatives of the president and should reflect his policy priorities.
Africa is the most impacted continent, with ambassadors from 13 countries, including Nigeria, Senegal, Somalia, and Uganda, being recalled.
The Asia-Pacific region follows with six countries affected, including the Philippines, Vietnam, and Papua New Guinea. Europe, the Middle East, South Asia, and the Western Hemisphere also saw several ambassadorial changes.
The recalls, first reported by Politico, have drawn concern from lawmakers and the American Foreign Service Association, which represents U.S. diplomats.
