Rubio mocks NYT as 'victim of another hoax' over US embassy closures
Photo: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio (Getty Images)
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has refuted a New York Times report claiming that Washington plans to close American embassies in Africa.
"This is fake news. The New York Times falls victim to another hoax," Rubio wrote.
Background
The New York Times published an article stating that US President Donald Trump might sign an executive order next week to reduce the operations of the State Department and US embassies in Africa.
If the document is signed, there would be layoffs of both diplomats and civil servants. In particular, the State Department would begin sending a large number of employees on paid leave and issuing layoff notices.
The NYT article also highlighted one of the most radical proposals: the possible closure of the Bureau of African Affairs, which handles US policy in Sub-Saharan Africa. Instead, it suggests creating a small office of a special envoy for African affairs, which would report to the National Security Council at the White House. This office would focus on just a few priority areas, including "coordinated counterterrorism operations" and "strategic extraction and trade of critical natural resources."
The proposal also includes closing all “non-essential” embassies and consulates in Sub-Saharan Africa by October 1. Diplomats would be sent to Africa on "targeted, mission-driven deployments."
