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International cooperation

US to Withdraw from UNESCO Amid Global Pullout by Trump

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

The United States is set to withdraw from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), amidst a broader trend of US withdrawal from international institutions initiated by President Donald Trump. This move comes as a blow to the agency, which has been instrumental in promoting peace through international cooperation in education, science, and culture since its founding after World War Two. The decision marks a reversal of the steps taken by former President Joe Biden, who returned the US to UNESCO in 2021.

Key Takeaways:

  • The US withdrawal from UNESCO is a part of a broader trend of US pullout from international institutions initiated by President Donald Trump.
  • Trump has also decided to withdraw the US from the World Health Organization (WHO) and halt funding to the Palestinian relief agency UNRWA as part of a review of the US participation in UN agencies.
  • The US initially joined UNESCO at its founding in 1945 but withdrew for the first time in 1984 in protest against alleged financial mismanagement and perceived anti-U.S. bias.
  • The US returned to UNESCO in 2003 under President George W. Bush, who stated that the agency had undertaken needed reforms.
  • The US provides about 8 percent of UNESCO's total budget, down from about 20 percent at the time Trump first pulled the United States out of the agency.
  • UNESCO is best known for designating World Heritage Sites, including the Grand Canyon in the United States and the ancient city of Palmyra in Syria.

Statistics:

  • 8%: The percentage of UNESCO's total budget provided by the US, down from about 20% at the time Trump first pulled the US out of the agency.
  • 1945: The year the US initially joined UNESCO.
  • 1984: The year the US withdrew from UNESCO for the first time in protest against alleged financial mismanagement and perceived anti-U.S. bias.
  • 2003: The year the US returned to UNESCO under President George W. Bush.
  • 2021: The year President Joe Biden returned the US to UNESCO.
  • August: The month by which the US is due to conclude its review of participation in UN agencies.

Sources:

  • Two European diplomats.
  • The New York Post.
  • The White House (cited by The New York Post).

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