The decision marks a continuation of President Trump's philosophy of prioritizing American interests over global multilateralism, reigniting debates around U.S. relationships with international organizations.
U.S. Plans to Exit UNESCO: Trump Administration's Multilateralism Retreat
U.S. Plans to Exit UNESCO: Trump Administration's Multilateralism Retreat
In a significant shift, the Trump administration announces its intention to withdraw from UNESCO, highlighting ongoing tensions with international institutions.
In a Monday announcement, the U.S. State Department revealed that the country will be withdrawing from UNESCO (the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) at the end of next year. This decision represents yet another step by the Trump administration to reduce ties with international organizations, reflecting the administration's deep-seated skepticism of multilateralism and international collaboration.
Tammy Bruce, a spokesperson for the State Department, articulated the reasoning behind the withdrawal, stating, “Continued involvement in UNESCO is not in the national interest of the United States.” Bruce criticized UNESCO for allegedly promoting "divisive social and cultural causes" while adhering to an “outsized focus on the U.N.’s Sustainable Development Goals,” which she deemed aligned with a globalist ideology contrary to the "America First" foreign policy.
The decision to exit UNESCO is not new; the U.S. had previously withdrawn from the organization during Trump’s first presidency before rejoining under the Biden administration. Tension between U.S. administrations and UNESCO has a longstanding history, particularly in light of political factors such as UNESCO's recognition of Palestine as a full member in 2011, leading to the U.S. cutting funding, which in turn significantly affected the organization's budget and ability to operate.
UNESCO is widely recognized for its role in designating World Heritage sites, which include cultural treasures across the globe paired with efforts to promote education, sex education, gender equality, and environmental standards. Critics of the U.S. withdrawal warn that disengagement could allow rival nations, particularly China, to exert greater influence in the cultural and educational spheres previously occupied by American leadership.
In response to ongoing criticisms regarding heritage preservation and international educational standards, the Biden administration in 2023 expressed a desire to reengage with UNESCO, warning that a lack of U.S. presence could create vacuums in global cultural dialogue.
As this withdrawal gathers pace, it signals a continued realignment of U.S. priorities on the world stage, focusing on unilateralism over cooperative international governance.
