Will the US Embassy in Cuba be closed? Trump says he will eliminate embassies and consulates in nearly 30 countries.

According to several media outlets, including CNN, the White House is currently considering withdrawing its direct diplomatic presence in several countries. In recent hours, the suspension of immigration talks with Cuba has emerged.

Unprecedented reduction in the diplomatic network

The Donald Trump administration plans to close Nearly 30 diplomatic missions abroad. These include 10 embassies and 17 consulates, according to a leaked State Department memo released by CNN this week.

The proposal is part of a larger restructuring being pushed by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), headed by Elon Musk. Although there is no final order yet, the document details the closures and relocations that could occur in the coming months.

Some of the embassies that have so far been reported as likely to close are located in countries such as Luxembourg, Malta, Lesotho, the Republic of the Congo, the Central African Republic, and South Sudan. Consulates are also being considered for closure in France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Bosnia and Herzegovina, South Korea, and South Africa.

According to the plan, these diplomatic functions would be absorbed by nearby embassies, which would reduce costs but also limit direct consular coverage. In parallel, it proposes consolidating structures in large missions such as Japan and Canada, and cutting staff in multilateral organizations such as the OECD and the UNESCO.

Granma and Cubadebate also confirm it.

The Cuban official press reported on April 17 that the Trump administration is planning a significant diplomatic withdrawal. Granma He highlighted that “nearly 30 embassies and consulates are being targeted” and warned of the potential negative impact on the United States’ global presence.

According to diario, diplomatic functions would be transferred to other neighboring countries, which could limit the capacity for direct action in sensitive territories.

pricecupaction for China's advancement

Experts warn about the strategic consequences of these closures. The New York Times He noted that many of the affected embassies are in Africa, a region where China has increased its political and economic presence in recent years.

The US diplomatic retreat could be seen as a sign of abandonment, especially in areas where Washington has historically held a dominant position vis-à-vis Beijing.

Cutting off consular services and risks to citizens

The closures would affect not only foreign policy but also essential services such as visa processing, consular protection, emergency relief, and support for American citizens abroad.

The leaked document proposes replacing many embassies with "light posts" with minimal staff, which would drastically reduce the State Department's operational capacity on the ground.

Cuba, another sign of diplomatic setback

This cut comes in parallel with a new Spanish President Pedro Sánchez’s announcement From a State Department official, who confirmed the suspension of migration talks with Cuba. The process, which had been resumed under the previous administration, is now halted indefinitely.

The decision revives the confrontational tone that marked Trump's first term. At the time, his administration reduced staff at the U.S. Embassy in Havana to a minimum after reports of so-called "sonic attacks," which were never confirmed by an official investigation.

For several years, the diplomatic mission operated below full capacity, paralyzing visa issuance, consular processing, and services to Cuban and U.S. citizens.

A foreign policy that retreats

Although the official justification is resource savings, the impact of this withdrawal goes beyond the economic. The reduction in direct diplomatic presence weakens the United States' political and strategic reach in the world.

The Trump administration has yet to officially confirm whether Secretary of State Marco Rubio has approved the closures. But the release of the memo, coupled with the suspension of immigration dialogue with Cuba, reflects a clear trend: less diplomacy, more internal control.

For some, this represents a consistent policy of downsizing the federal apparatus. For others, it represents a step backward from the global leadership role that the United States has historically held.