Trump sent a notice to Montenegro and North Macedonia: They have less than a month

According to AP, this is essentially a reshaping of the U.S. diplomatic stance abroad, targeting personnel considered fully supportive of President Donald Trump's "America First" priorities.

"Mission chiefs in at least 29 countries were informed last week that their terms would end in January," said two State Department officials speaking anonymously to discuss internal staffing changes, AP reports.

Ambassador departures notifications

All affected ambassadors had assumed their posts under the Biden administration but survived the initial purge in the first months of Trump's second term, which primarily targeted political appointees. This changed on Wednesday when they began receiving notifications from Washington officials about their upcoming departures.

Ambassadors serve at the pleasure of the president, typically staying three to four years. Those affected by this reshuffle will not lose their jobs in the foreign service but can return to Washington for other assignments if they wish, officials said, AP reports.

The State Department declined to comment on the exact number or the specific ambassadors affected but defended the changes as a "standard process in every administration."

It emphasized that an ambassador is the "personal representative of the president," and it is the president's prerogative to ensure that individuals advancing the "America First" agenda are posted in these countries.

Most affected regions

Africa is the continent most affected, with ambassadors removed from 13 countries: Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Gabon, Ivory Coast, Madagascar, Mauritius, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Somalia, and Uganda.

Asia follows, with changes in six countries: Fiji, Laos, Marshall Islands, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, and Vietnam.

Affected Montenegro and North Macedonia

Four European countries are affected: Armenia, North Macedonia, Montenegro, and Slovakia; as well as two in the Middle East (Algeria and Egypt); two in South and Central Asia (Nepal and Sri Lanka); and two in the Western Hemisphere (Guatemala and Suriname).

Politico was the first to report on the ambassador recalls, which have raised concerns among some lawmakers and the union representing U.S. diplomats, AP notes.