Senate Warns Trump’s Diplomatic Recalls Create Global Security Vacuum

Ten Democratic senators on the Foreign Relations Committee have written to President Donald Trump expressing their “urgent concern” over his decision to recall 30 diplomats from their ambassador posts. The senators noted this move has created more than 100 vacant ambassadorial positions worldwide.

“This vacuum in U.S. leadership poses a significant threat to our national security and unnecessarily risks the safety of U.S. citizens and businesses overseas,” the senators wrote. They criticized the decision as “hasty,” stating Congress was not consulted and there was no plan to replace the recalled diplomats.

The senators warned that with over 100 embassies lacking senior leadership, adversaries including China and Russia will exploit the gap to expand their influence and harm U.S. interests abroad. The Trump administration’s recent move to recall ambassadors aims to reshape diplomatic posture with personnel fully supportive of its America First agenda.

All recalled ambassadors had taken up posts during the Biden administration and survived early-term purges targeting political appointees. Africa is most affected, with 13 nations having ambassadors removed: Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Gabon, Ivory Coast, Madagascar, Mauritius, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Somalia, and Uganda. Asia follows with six countries impacted: Fiji, Laos, the Marshall Islands, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, and Vietnam.

The letter was signed by Senate Foreign Relations ranking member Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., alongside Democratic Senators Chris Coons of Delaware, Chris Murphy of Connecticut, Tim Kaine of Virginia, Jeff Merkley of Oregon, Cory Booker of New Jersey, Brian Schatz of Hawaii, Chris Van Hollen of Maryland, Tammy Duckworth of Illinois, and Jacky Rosen of Nevada.