U.S. Withdraws from Numerous International Bodies Amid Global Policy Shift
In a bold move, the Trump administration has decided to pull back from a significant number of international organizations, marking a new chapter in U.S. foreign policy. This shift includes withdrawing from the United Nations’ population agency and a treaty pivotal to international climate negotiations, as the U.S. pivots away from global collaboration.
An executive order signed by President Trump on Wednesday halts U.S. support for 66 diverse organizations, agencies, and commissions. This decision follows a comprehensive review of U.S. involvement and funding in international bodies, including those linked to the United Nations, as detailed in a statement from the White House.
Most affected by this decision are U.N.-related entities that engage in discussions on climate change, labor, and migration—topics the administration deems as aligning with “woke” agendas. The list of exits also includes the Partnership for Atlantic Cooperation and the Global Counterterrorism Forum.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio explained, “The Trump Administration has found these institutions to be redundant in their scope, mismanaged, unnecessary, wasteful, poorly run, captured by the interests of actors advancing their own agendas contrary to our own, or a threat to our nation’s sovereignty, freedoms, and general prosperity.”
U.S. Continues Pattern of Exiting Global Entities
This recent move continues a trend set by the administration to distance itself from several global organizations. Earlier, the U.S. suspended contributions to the World Health Organization, the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees, the U.N. Human Rights Council, and UNESCO. This selective participation underscores the administration’s strategy to support only those global initiatives that align with its agenda.
“It’s a very clear vision of wanting international cooperation on Washington’s own terms,” stated Daniel Forti, head of U.N. affairs at the International Crisis Group, regarding the administration’s approach.
This strategy contrasts with previous administrations’ engagement with the United Nations, leading to significant adjustments within the organization, including program and staffing cuts.
Recent Global Organizations the U.S. Is Leaving
Notably, the U.S. is also withdrawing from the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), which plays a critical role in facilitating international climate initiatives. The UNFCCC underpins the Paris Agreement, from which Trump had already withdrawn, citing skepticism about climate change.
Former White House National Climate Adviser Gina McCarthy criticized this decision, calling it “shortsighted, embarrassing, and a foolish decision,” arguing that it undermines U.S. influence over global economic and environmental policy decisions.
Experts warn that U.S. withdrawal from climate agreements could hamper global efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Rob Jackson, a Stanford University climate scientist, noted that this move “gives other nations the excuse to delay their own actions and commitments.”
Additional organizations from which the U.S. will withdraw include the Carbon Free Energy Compact and the United Nations University, among others, reflecting a broader strategy of re-evaluating international collaborations.
This article was originally written by www.npr.org
