US to leave UN cultural agency UNESCO again, diplomats say
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment outside regular business hours.
The move is a blow to the Paris-based agency, founded after World War Two to promote peace through international cooperation in education, science, and culture. The New York Post also reported on the US withdrawal, citing a White House official.
Trump took similar steps during his first term, quitting the World Health Organization, the UN Human Rights Council, a global climate change accord and the Iran nuclear deal.
Joe Biden reversed those decisions after taking office in 2021, returning the US to UNESCO, the WHO and the climate agreement.
With Trump now back in the White House, the US is once again pulling out of these global bodies. He has already decided to withdraw the US from the WHO and halt funding to the Palestinian relief agency UNRWA as part of a review of the US' participation in UN agencies, due to be concluded in August.
UNESCO is best known for designating World Heritage Sites, including the Grand Canyon in the United States and the ancient city of Palmyra in Syria.
The United States initially joined UNESCO at its founding in 1945 but withdrew for the first time in 1984 in protest against alleged financial mismanagement and perceived anti-US bias, returning almost 20 years later in 2003 under President George W. Bush, who then said the agency had undertaken needed reforms.
UNESCO's full name is the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.
The United States provides about 8 percent of UNESCO's total budget, down from about 20 percent at the time Trump first pulled the United States out of the agency. (Reuters)
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Korea Herald
11 hours ago
- Korea Herald
Seoul shares end higher amid caution over tariff talks
South Korean stocks finished higher Wednesday, as investors picked up big-cap tech shares amid caution ahead of high-stakes talks with the United States on its sweeping tariff scheme. The local currency rose against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index added 13.83 points, or 0.44 percent, to close at 3,183.77, rebounding from a marked loss in the previous session. Trade volume was moderate at 655.24 million shares worth 11.89 trillion won ($8.62 billion), with losers beating winners 497 to 390. Retail investors offloaded a net 682.82 billion won worth of stocks, while institutions and foreigners bought a net 292.31 billion won and 316.15 billion won worth of shares, respectively. The index opened slightly higher and fluctuated within a narrow range throughout the session before ending with a modest gain. Investors are closely watching the developments of negotiations on the United States' tariff scheme as just 10 days remain until the Aug. 1 deadline set by US President Donald Trump. Earlier in the day, Washington announced deals with Japan and the Philippines. South Korea is set for last-minute talks with the US The trade talks involving Finance Minister Koo Yun-cheol, Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo and their US counterparts -- Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer -- are scheduled to take place in Washington on Friday (local time). Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan left for Washington earlier in the day for separate talks with his US counterpart. "The Kospi has touched the 3,200 level but has struggled to settle above that," analyst Han Ji-yong from Kiwoom Securities said. "Upward momentum is limited due to lingering effects from the recent sharp rally, along with growing caution ahead of the second-quarter earnings season and tariff talks." Tech shares led the upturn of the index. Market bellwether Samsung Electronics rose 0.61 percent to 66,400 won, and chip giant SK hynix edged up 0.19 percent to 269,000 won. Major battery maker LG Energy Solution advanced 0.9 percent to 336,500 won, and leading biotech firm Samsung Biologics surged 2.11 percent to 1,064,000 won. Carmakers rallied on news that the US cut tariffs on imports of automobiles from Japan. Top carmaker Hyundai Motor spiked 7.51 percent to 222,000 won, and its sister Kia Motors soared 8.49 percent to 106,100 won. Top financial firm KB Financial went up 0.61 percent to 115,300 won, and nuclear power plant manufacturer Doosan Enerbility climbed 1.28 percent to 63,400 won. No. 1 steelmaker Posco Holdings moved up 3.72 percent to 335,000 won. But leading online portal operator Naver decreased 1.49 percent to 231,500 won, and Kakao, the operator of the country's dominant mobile messenger, tumbled 2.65 percent to 55,000 won. Defense powerhouse Hanwha Aerospace dipped 1.3 percent to 910,000 won. The local currency was quoted at 1,379.8 won against the greenback at 3:30 p.m., up 8 won from the previous session. (Yonhap)
Korea Herald
13 hours ago
- Korea Herald
Seoul should set new bottom line for USFK: expert
Seoul needs to be proactive in setting the new 'baseline' with Washington over the talks involving a possible change in the role of the 28,500-strong US Forces Korea stationed here, a Seoul-based military and foreign relations expert said Wednesday. 'South Korean officials and experts' current discussions, in dealing with Washington's talks of strategic flexibility of the USFK, are focused on maintaining the current situation or reacting to the US' moves,' Jo Bee-yun, a research fellow at Sejong Institute said in a report. 'However, Seoul must take a proactive approach (toward the issue) and prevent any radical adjustments to the USFK,' she added. The report comes amid growing speculation that Washington may reduce and reconfigure the USFK to prioritize deterrence of Chinese threats. A May report by the Wall Street Journal indicated that Washington was reviewing wheter to relocate 4,500 troops from South Korea to other areas in the Indo-Pacific region. US President Donald Trump has been also putting pressure on Seoul to sharply increase its spending on national defense or pay more fo the cost of stationing the USFK on the peninsula. He recently took a jab at the latest South Korea-US defense cost-sharing deal, dubbed, the Special Measures Agreement, signed under the previous Joe Biden administration last year, saying falsely that the cost was reduced 'to nothing.' The latest SMA for the 2026-2030 period states that Korea is to pay 1.52 trillion won ($1.11 billion) next year, up from 1.4 trillion won this year. In this regard, Jo pointed out that the gap between the stance on security priorities between Seoul and Washington are growing wider. 'South Korea prioritizes responding to threats from North Korea due to its geopolitical conditions, but the US is attempting to expand the strategic flexibility of the USFK with the focus on deterring threats from China — this has led to a widened gap between stances on security,' she explained. To prevent further security risks, Jo claimed Seoul must first admit the possibility of a USFK troop reduction and set a new baseline that could help maintain the strength of the South Korea-US alliance and Washington's commitment to extended deterrence. Specifically, Seoul would need to propose to Washington about maintaining at least 15,000 troops on the peninsula, as well as the current level of the 'Super Squadron' formation test, an initiative by the US Air Force, to consolidate a larger number of F-16 fighter jets into a single squadron at Osan Air Base. The test is aimed enhancing combat effectiveness. Seoul should also pursue permanent deployment of an F-35A wing, a radar-evading aircraft, to Kunsan Air Base and request Washington to continue to send four-star generals to lead the USFK, she added. Advancing and developing conventional-nuclear integration options, under which South Korea mobilizes its conventional military assets to back America's nuclear operations in a crisis scenario, would be another key step, Jo noted.
Korea Herald
14 hours ago
- Korea Herald
US withdraws from UNESCO again, only 2 years after rejoining
United Nations (AP) — The Trump administration announced Tuesday that it will once again withdraw from the UN cultural agency UNESCO, an expected move that has the US further retreating from international organizations. The decision to pull US funding and participation from UNESCO comes two years after the Biden administration rejoined following a controversial, five-year absence that began during President Donald Trump's first term. The White House cited similar concerns as it did in 2018, saying it believes US involvement is not in its national interest and accusing the agency of promoting anti-Israel speech. The decision, which won't go into effect until December 2026, will deal a blow to an agency known for preserving cultural heritage through its UNESCO World Heritage Sites program — which recognizes significant landmarks for protection, ranging from the Taj Mahal to Egypt's pyramids of Giza and the Grand Canyon National Park. The agency also empowers education and science across the globe. It is the Trump administration's latest move to pull support for UN agencies under a larger campaign to reshape US diplomacy. Under the "America First" approach, the administration has pulled out of the UN World Health Organization and the top UN human rights body, while reassessing its funding for others. This has left the UN, which is in the process of its own massive overhaul, reevaluating core programs and initiatives and what the international body would look like without support from the US — its largest donor. State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said in a statement that the withdrawal was linked to UNESCO's perceived agenda to 'advance divisive social and cultural causes.' She added that UNESCO's decision in 2011 'to admit the 'State of Palestine' as a Member State is highly problematic, contrary to US policy, and contributed to the proliferation of anti-Israel rhetoric within the organization.' UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay said she 'deeply' regrets the US decision but said it was expected and that the agency 'has prepared for it.' She also denied accusations of anti-Israel bias, saying it contradicts 'the reality of UNESCO's efforts, particularly in the field of Holocaust education and the fight against antisemitism.' Azoulay added that 'the reasons put forward by the United States of America are the same as seven years ago, even though the situation has changed profoundly, political tensions have receded, and UNESCO today constitutes a rare forum for consensus on concrete and action-oriented multilateralism." Danny Danon, Israel's ambassador to the UN, celebrated the announcement, saying in a statement that it is a 'fitting response to the consistent misguided anti-Israel bias of UNESCO, an organization that has lost its way.' The Biden administration had rejoined UNESCO in 2023 after citing concerns that China was filling the gap left by the US in UNESCO policymaking, notably in setting standards for artificial intelligence and technology education. 'Unilaterally withdrawing the United States from UNESCO is another assault by the Trump administration on international cooperation and US global leadership," Rep. Gregory Meeks, the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said. 'This decision cedes more ground to US competitors, especially China, who will take advantage of America's absence to further shape the international system in their favor.' The withdrawal, which was first reported by the New York Post, came after a review ordered by the Trump administration earlier this year. While the US had previously provided a notable share of the agency's budget, UNESCO has diversified its funding sources in recent years as the US contribution has decreased. Today, American assistance represents only 8 percent of the agency's total budget. Azoulay pledged that UNESCO will carry out its missions despite 'inevitably reduced resources.' The agency said that it is not considering any staff layoffs at this stage. 'UNESCO's purpose is to welcome all the nations of the world, and the United States of America is and always will be welcome,' she said. 'We will continue to work hand in hand with all our American partners in the private sector, academia and nonprofit organizations, and will pursue our political dialogue with the US administration and Congress.' The US previously pulled out of UNESCO under the Reagan administration in 1984 because it viewed the agency as mismanaged, corrupt and used to advance the interests of the Soviet Union. It rejoined in 2003 during George W. Bush's presidency. France, where UNESCO is based, stated in a press release that it regrets the US decision to withdraw from the agency, which was founded in 1946 'to prevent conflicts through education, culture and tolerance.' 'France supports UNESCO, which backs several of its priorities at international level, particularly access to education for all, the protection of endangered heritage, the protection of our oceans, the responsible development of artificial intelligence and the fight against anti-Semitism and hate speech,' the French Foreign Ministry said.
