The U.S. Embassy in Maldives, opened less than two years ago, has reportedly been listed among ten embassies recommended for closure, according to leaked internal documents from the U.S. State Department obtained by CNN. The proposed cuts form part of a broader plan by the Trump administration to significantly scale back America’s diplomatic presence abroad, citing the need for sweeping reductions in government spending.
The embassy in the Maldives was inaugurated in September 2023, marking a significant moment in the diplomatic relationship between the two countries. Hugo Yon became the first U.S. resident ambassador to the Maldives, a move that was widely seen as a deepening of bilateral ties and a strategic recalibration in the Indian Ocean. Prior to this, U.S. diplomatic affairs concerning the Maldives were handled through the embassy in Sri Lanka.
According to CNN, the internal State Department document recommends closing 10 embassies and 17 consulates globally, citing factors such as cost per staff, facility conditions, security ratings, and feedback from regional bureaus. The list includes embassies in Malta, Luxembourg, Eritrea, South Sudan, and the Central African Republic, as well as consulates in countries like France, Germany, and South Korea.
Notably, the leaked memo suggests that operations in closed embassies would be absorbed by neighbouring missions, echoing the previous arrangement for U.S.-Maldives diplomatic affairs. The plan has drawn concern given that discussions were reportedly underway to establish visa processing services in Malé, a long-requested convenience for Maldivians who currently need to travel to Colombo for U.S. visa services.
The proposals are part of the Fiscal Year 2026 budget planning, and form a key element of what is described as a broader governmental efficiency initiative, said to be supported by Elon Musk and now led by the Department of Government Efficiency. If implemented, the budget would slash the State Department’s funding from USD 54 billion in FY2025 to USD 28.4 billion—a near 50 percent cut.
While the U.S. Embassy in Malé has not issued a specific statement on the potential closure, Department Spokesperson Tammy Bruce addressed the broader issue at a recent State Department press briefing. She stressed that the leaked documents do not reflect an official or final decision, noting that the budget is still being formulated and will ultimately be subject to congressional review. “There is no final plan, final budget, final dynamic,” she said, adding that leaked details should be treated with caution.
The possible closure of the U.S. Embassy in the Maldives would come at a time when the country is navigating a complex geopolitical environment and seeking to expand its diplomatic partnerships. The embassy’s presence was widely seen as a boost to bilateral engagement, particularly in areas such as climate cooperation, security, and trade.
For now, the embassy in Malé continues to operate as normal. Whether it will remain part of the U.S. diplomatic map in the coming years depends not only on the White House’s final budget submission but also on how Congress responds to the sweeping cuts currently being proposed.
