By Admin 
In the second term of US President Donald Trump, a major change has taken place to implement the ‘America First’ policy. The Trump administration recalled about 30 senior career diplomats and ambassadors from their posts from around the world. These diplomats were posted primarily to smaller countries, where US ambassadors are usually non-political officers of the Foreign Service.
These diplomats were appointed during the Biden administration. He was suddenly informed through a phone call that he should leave his post and return to America by 15-16 January 2025. The US State Department has advised these diplomats to find new roles in the State Department, but they have not been fired.
Which countries will be affected by Trump’s decision?
Africa has been most affected, where ambassadors from 13-15 countries (Nigeria, Senegal, Rwanda, Somalia, Madagascar, Uganda etc.) have been recalled. Six countries in Asia (Fiji, Laos, Marshall Islands, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Vietnam), Algeria and Egypt in the Middle East, Nepal and Sri Lanka in South Asia, Armenia, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Slovakia and other regions in Europe are also affected.
What is the Trump administration’s stand?
A senior US State Department official described it as ‘normal procedure in the administration’. He said, ‘Ambassadors are the personal representatives of the President. The President has the right to appoint people who will carry forward the ‘America First’ agenda. The administration says that this change is to avoid opposition to the foreign policy found in the first term, so that Trump’s policies can be easily implemented.
Why is it a big deal to recall diplomats?
The American Foreign Service Association (AFSA) called it unique and said that such a large-scale recall of career diplomats has happened for the first time in the 101-year history of the Foreign Service. AFSA spokeswoman Nikki Gamer said it was not unusual to give information via sudden and unprovoked phone call. Due to this, the confidence of employees is falling, results are being affected and America’s credibility is weakening abroad.
America’s global image in danger of weakening
Democrat Senator Jean Shaheen, ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, wrote on social media, ‘Trump is handing over American leadership to China and Russia by removing qualified and honest ambassadors. This will make America insecure, weak and backward. The opposition says that already more than 80 ambassadorial posts are vacant. Now removing experienced career diplomats will harm America’s global image and influence.
This step is a big step towards making Trump’s foreign policy completely ‘America First’ at the beginning of his second term. Experts believe that this will increase political loyalty in American embassies, but may reduce traditional diplomatic expertise and impartiality.