A revised diplomatic network to uphold Belgian interests even more effectively

We are strengthening around twenty posts, opening five new posts and closing eight posts. That revised network of embassies and consulates should make us ready for the future in a turbulent world.

The FPS Foreign Affairs is a key department with regard to the security and prosperity of our country. We therefore invest in existing and new partnerships with individual countries, work to uphold an effective international rule of law, defend our economic interests, and provide assistance to Belgians abroad.

To make that happen, we rely on a vigorous central administration and a resilient diplomatic network: our posts – embassies and consulates – located around the world.

Given the current turbulent global context, Belgium's Minister of Foreign Affairs Maxime Prévot thought that the time had come for a thorough reassessment of that diplomatic network. An exercise of that type had not been carried out for 12 to 15 years, which is an eternity in today's rapidly changing world.
 

An ambitious and resilient diplomatic network that's fit for the future

In the end, the minister decided to strengthen about twenty posts, open five new posts, and close eight posts. That decision was based on an analysis carried out over several months and based on several criteria: our political and economic interests, our security, the objectives of our development cooperation, consular requirements, the cost, the presence of regions and communities, and so on.

The result will be an ambitious and resilient diplomatic network that's fit for the future. We will now have a stronger presence in locations where our interests are at stake and where our presence provides the greatest added value. Our FPS remains a highly active player in diplomacy and development, its work complementing the country's defence activities.

The strengthening of around twenty posts was much needed. Some of Belgium's embassies were actually operating with limited staffing. Because when a post operates with only two diplomats and one of them becomes unavailable, the impact is considerable.
 

Not a savings exercise, but a realignment

It is important to emphasise that this reassessment of the network is not a cost-cutting exercise, but rather a realignment. Indeed, the minister has ensured that our diplomatic network would not be subjected to the annual budget cuts of 1.8% that our FPS is required to achieve.

In addition, the surplus resulting from the ratio between closures and openings is being reinvested. We already mentioned that a number of posts are being strengthened, but there will also be a pool of ‘flying diplomats’, i.e. a group of diplomats who can be deployed temporarily to support posts facing unprecedented crisis situations, long-term illness or as replacements for staff currently on maternity or parental leave.
 

Diplomatic relations will continue even after closure

The closure of eight posts in no way means the end of our diplomatic relations with the countries concerned. We will continue to attach every importance to those but will organise them in a different way. One of the ways we will do this will be via a diplomatic post in a neighbouring country or through the work carried out by our special envoys. We will also take care to ensure that Belgians present in that country can still have access to high-quality services to the same extent as before.

For example, we will be closing our posts in three African partner countries of Belgian Development Cooperation: Guinea, Mali, and Mozambique. We will arrange a smooth exit strategy for governmental cooperation in those countries, while continuing to work together via other tools and channels, such as civil society.

The changes will be gradually implemented over the course of 2026 and 2027. The closure of the posts will take place with the utmost caution, especially with regard to the local staff who have worked for us for many years. The posts concerned will receive the necessary support for that purpose.
 

Strengthening existing alliances and forging new ones

In these turbulent times that are characterised by shifting balances of power, strengthening existing alliances, and forging new ones across all continents is crucial and that is precisely what the reassessment of our diplomatic network sets out to achieve. Some examples:

• A Permanent Representative to the African Union in Addis Ababa will be appointed.
• We are opening a new embassy in Windhoek (Namibia): opportunities for green transition and port development.
• We are strengthening our posts in Chile and Panama: an increased focus on and interest in the South American continent.
• We are opening a new embassy in Tashkent (Uzbekistan): the importance of the Trans-Caspian corridor (the ‘new Silk Road’) in Central Asia.
• We will appoint an ambassador to Syria who will reside in Beirut (Lebanon): this is important from the point of view of security and migration, and economic opportunities for reconstruction.
• We are strengthening our posts in Riyadh (Saudi Arabia) and Doha (Qatar), and are opening a new embassy in Muscat (Oman): to utilise economic opportunities in the Gulf states at the request of Belgian economic players.
• We are opening an embassy in Tirana (Albania): the Balkan region plays a crucial role with regard to security, migration, and economic opportunities.

We will be closing our posts in: Sarajevo (Bosnia-Herzegovina), Bamako (Mali), Maputo (Mozambique), Conakry (Guinea), Havana (Cuba), Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), Kuwait City (Kuwait), and Guangzhou (China).