Belgian diplomatic representations to be reformed

A shake-up of Belgian diplomatic posts is under way, foreign minister Didier Reynders confirmed to Le Soir. The reform is borne out of economic necessity and sees some embassies and consulates close, some open and others merge with their Dutch counterparts. Among the most high-profile new permanent missions are an embassy in Panama, a consulate-general in Chennai, India, and an honorary consul in Myanmar. Meanwhile, the embassy in Malta and the consulate-general in Milan are to close (with an honorary consul designated in both cases), as is the embassy in Costa Rica, which will be transferred to Panama. In Venezuela, meanwhile, Belgian offices will open in the Dutch embassy, while the Netherlands’ diplomatic representation will move in to the Belgian chancellery in Kinshasa, DRC.