“Luxembourg is not aware of US government projects aimed at closing the embassy in Luxembourg and was not contacted by the United States government on this subject,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs replied to a request from Luxembourg wordafter a list of potential candidates for the abolition of American international representations was published by the American information portal Politico.
This list has been established in the context of the economy measures of the American State Department. US President Donald Trump had made announcements in March. The chairman of the Chamber’s Foreign Affairs Committee, Gusty Graas (DP), is also surprised by a possible closure. “If this were to be the case, it would be a profound upheaval in relations between Luxembourg and the United States, which I would so far qualify excellent, with the exception of the period following January 20”.
What is the place of Luxembourg now compared to the United States?
Gusty grass
DP deputy and chairman of the Chamber’s Foreign Affairs Committee.
Gusty Graas had already surprised that the ambassador appointed by Trump for Luxembourg, Stacey Feinberg, has not yet taken his new position, vacant since January. “I maintained myself on this subject a month ago with a representative of the American embassy, who could not give me any indications on the date. It left me perplexed, ”he explains.
“Dramatic for economic relations between the two countries”
Moreover, Luxembourg has provided Donald Trump no reason to make this decision. This closure would be particularly dramatic for economic relations between the two countries. “We have many American companies in Luxembourg and there are still attempts to set up other American companies here.”
On the social level, the possible disappearance of the American representation in Luxembourg would not be without consequences either. Thus, former ambassador Thomas Barrett “had very good contacts with many municipalities”. This has contributed a lot to maintaining friendship between the United States and Luxembourg. There is now the question of “what is now the place of Luxembourg compared to the United States”.
This article was initially published on the website of Luxembourg word.
Adaptation: Mélodie Mouzon
