The United States has withdrawn its membership from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
According to the US State Department press notice, the US has informed UNESCO’s Director-General Ms. Audrey Azoulay today about the United States’ decision to withdraw from UNESCO saying continued involvement in UNESCO is not in the national interest of the United States.
“President Trump has decided to withdraw the United States from UNESCO — which supports woke, divisive cultural and social causes that are totally out-of-step with the commonsense policies that Americans voted for in November,” White House deputy spokesperson Anna Kelly said in a statement.
Among other countries, the United States was one of the founding members of UNESCO in 1945. Headquartered in Paris, France, UNESCO is a specialized agency of the United Nations working for advancing world peace to strengthen humanity through the promotion of education, science, culture, and communication that has 194 member states and 12 associate members with 53 regional field offices and 199 national commissions.
Earlier in 1984, the US also withdrew its membership from UNESCO. But in 2003 US rejoined UNESCO saying it had implemented remarkable reforms which the US accused over financial mismanagement and worked against US interests.
With this unexpected decision of the US, UNESCO DG deeply has deeply regretted. But French President Emmanuel Macron remarked writing “The withdrawal of the United States will not weaken our commitment alongside those who lead this fight” on social media X.
“UNESCO works to advance divisive social and cultural causes and maintains an outsized focus on the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, a globalist, ideological agenda for international development at odds with our America First foreign policy, the release reads with adding, “UNESCO’s decision to admit the “State of Palestine” as a Member State is highly problematic, contrary to U.S. policy, and contributed to the proliferation of anti-Israel rhetoric within the organization.”
Continued U.S. participation in international organizations will focus on advancing American interests with clarity and conviction, it said.
Pursuant to Article II (6) of the UNESCO Constitution, U.S. withdrawal will take effect on December 31, 2026. The United States will remain a full member of UNESCO until that time.
