The administration of US President Donald Trump has announced the withdrawal of 30 career diplomats who held ambassadorial positions or other senior positions in United States diplomatic missions.
According to official sources, the decision aims to reshape American diplomatic representation abroad, with a focus on placing personnel who support President Trump's policies and agenda. Heads of diplomatic missions in at least 29 countries have been informed that their mandates will end in January. All of the diplomats affected were appointed during the Biden administration, but remained in office even after the first changes undertaken in the first months of Trump's second term.
In the Western Balkans, the changes affect North Macedonia and Montenegro. Similar movements have also been recorded in Slovakia, as well as in several other countries on different continents.
Africa appears to be the region most affected by this reshuffle, with ambassadors leaving in 13 countries, followed by Asia with six. Armenia, Algeria, Egypt, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Guatemala and Suriname are also affected.
US authorities clarify that the withdrawn diplomats do not lose their status in the foreign service, but will return to Washington for other assignments, if they choose to accept them.
The State Department has defended these changes, calling them a standard process that occurs in every new administration. According to the State Department, ambassadors serve at the pleasure of the president and are his direct representatives, so the White House leader has the right to ensure that they advance the "America First" policy agenda.
