Overview
- AP reports that leaders of at least 29 overseas missions were told their service will end in January and that they should return to Washington for potential reassignment.
- The largest share is in Africa with 13 posts affected, with additional recalls in Asia including Fiji, Laos, the Marshall Islands, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines and Vietnam.
- Other affected posts include Algeria and Egypt in the Middle East as well as Armenia, North Macedonia, Montenegro and Slovakia in Europe.
- Most of the career diplomats were appointed during President Joe Biden's term, and an unnamed State Department official described the process as standard since ambassadors serve at the president's pleasure.
- The tally remains uncertain as AP cites at least 29 while the New York Post and a Washington Post reporter reference a list of 48, and the State Department has not issued a detailed public announcement.