The administration of US President Donald Trump has decided to recall ambassadors and senior diplomats serving in approximately 30 countries. Among these ambassadors is US Ambassador to Armenia Christina Quinn, the Associated Press reported, citing Armenpress.
Two State Department officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, told the AP that last week, the heads of diplomatic missions in 29 countries were notified that their terms will expire in January 2026. All of these diplomats were appointed during the presidency of former US President Joe Biden. The agency notes that with this move, Trump wants to have diplomats abroad who fully support his policy priorities, known as the slogan “America First.”
AP sources also learned that these diplomats could take other diplomatic positions upon returning to Washington if they so desire.
The State Department declined to comment on this news, stating only that changes are part of the normal process in any administration. The State Department noted that the ambassador “is the president’s personal representative, so the president has the right to be confident that there are people in these countries who are advancing the ‘America First’ policy agenda.”
The largest number of diplomatic reshuffles will occur in Africa, specifically in the following countries: Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Gabon, Côte d’Ivoire, Madagascar, Mauritius, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Somalia, and Uganda.
In Asia, diplomatic reshuffles will occur in six countries: Fiji, Laos, the Marshall Islands, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, and Vietnam.
According to the Associated Press, in Europe, reshuffles will occur in Armenia, Macedonia, Montenegro, and Slovakia, and in the Middle East, in Algeria and Egypt.
Changes will also occur in Nepal, Sri Lanka, Guatemala, and Suriname.
US Ambassador to Armenia Christina Quinn arrived in Yerevan on February 16, 2023. She became the tenth US Ambassador to Armenia.
Prior to arriving in Armenia, Ambassador Quinn served as the US Chargé d’Affaires a.i. in Ukraine (2020-2022).