- The United States has withdrawn from UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) for the second time under President Donald Trump’s leadership in 2025. The move reverses the 2023 decision by President Joe Biden to re-join the organization.
Historical Background:
- 1984: US first withdrew under President Ronald Reagan, citing mismanagement and anti-West bias.
- 2003: Re-joined under President George W. Bush.
- 2011: US stopped funding UNESCO after it granted full membership to Palestine.
- 2017: Trump withdrew again during his first term.
- 2023: Biden re-joined UNESCO to restore multilateral ties.
- 2025: Trump administration announces another exit, citing “ideological differences.”
Reasons for Withdrawal:
- UNESCO's recognition of Palestine as a full member state in 2011.
- Perceived anti-Israel bias in resolutions and reports.
- Accusations of promoting “woke” and divisive global agendas, according to the Trump White House.
- Belief that UNESCO fosters a globalist ideology that contradicts US national interests.
Significance of the Move:
- Reflects the “America First” foreign policy favouring unilateralism over multilateralism.
- Strengthens US political alignment with Israel, which has long criticized UNESCO.
- Signals a retreat from global cultural cooperation and UN-based diplomacy.
- Raises concerns about the future of US engagement in international educational, cultural, and scientific policy-making.