Prime Highlights
- President Trump announced America will leave UNESCO again at end of 2026 on the basis of ideological bias and politicization.
- UNESCO leaders lamented the decision but promised financial resilience and unwavering world commitment.
Key Facts
- This is the second U.S. withdrawal during President Trump, the first in 2017.
- The Biden administration had reinstituted U.S. membership in 2023 after five years.
Key Background
US President Donald Trump has raised international alarm once again by declaring the United States’ pullout from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). It follows the 2017 announcement which reflects a wider mistrust of multilateral institutions under his “America First” foreign policy.
The White House condemned UNESCO for what it calls a shift toward “woke” ideologies and globalist policies no longer aligned with American principles. The officials described the UNESCO membership recognition of Palestine in 2011 as still the main point of disagreement, interpreting the decision as evidence of ongoing anti-Israel prejudice. The agency was also rebuked by the administration for promoting polarizing international narratives in the interests of cultural cooperation.
For their own part, UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay was shocked but steadfast along the way of the organization. She highlighted that the agency had deliberately planned for the withdrawal of the U.S. by diversifying its funding. Whereas American donations used to be the majority of the budget, it now only covers about 8% alone, so that none of the projects or personnel of UNESCO shall be impacted by the withdrawal.
Foreign reactions are bitterly divided. France restated its full commitment to the work of UNESCO and its mission to safeguard the world’s cultural heritage and encourage inclusive education. Israel embraced the move as a response to institutionalized discrimination within the agency. U.S. politicians reacted with utmost alarm. The pullout is blamed by critics for undermining American leadership of global cultural diplomacy and conceding strategic terrain to rivals such as China, one of the largest donors to UNESCO.
UNESCO, established in 1945, is the leading agency for protection of world heritage places, access to education, and scientific collaboration. As much as the U.S. intended to officially withdraw by December 2026, the organization restored commitment, resolve, and cooperation values encompassing global cooperation.
