The United States is preparing to reduce its international influence and gradually withdraw from the international stage.
The U.S. State Department is preparing to cut its budget by nearly half, close some embassies and consulates, and almost eliminate all funding for the United Nations and NATO.
According to multiple media reports on Tuesday, the U.S. State Department plans to propose cutting the budget by nearly half, ending projects in various parts of the world, closing embassies, and reducing Washington's diplomatic influence. These proposals are part of the content in an internal memo, reportedly being seriously discussed by senior officials.
The memo specifies the closure of 10 embassies and 17 consulates, including embassies in Eritrea, Luxembourg, South Sudan, and Malta.
According to Punchbowl, five consulates designated for closure are located in France, two in Germany. The list also includes diplomatic missions in Scotland and Italy.
In Canada, the U.S. consulates in Montreal and Halifax will scale down operations to provide "last-mile diplomacy" with minimal local support.
Almost all funding for international organizations such as the United Nations and NATO will be canceled. Support for international peacekeeping operations, as well as funding for education and cultural exchanges, will also be reduced, including one of America's most prestigious scholarships, the Fulbright Program.
American Foreign Service Association and former U.S. Ambassador to Moscow Michael McFaul described the proposed cuts as "reckless and dangerous."
Although the memo mentions little about humanitarian aid, according to The New York Times, programs addressing tropical diseases, providing vaccines for children in developing countries, and promoting maternal and child health will be canceled.
Original source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1829502112898188/
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