logo
Trump pulls US out of UN cultural agency UNESCO for second time

Trump pulls US out of UN cultural agency UNESCO for second time

PARIS/WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump pulled the United States out of the U.N. culture and education agency UNESCO on Tuesday, repeating a move he had already ordered during his first term, which had been reversed under Joe Biden.
The withdrawal from the Paris-based agency, which was founded after World War Two to promote peace through international cooperation in education, science, and culture, will take effect on December 31, 2026.
'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 spokeswoman Anna Kelly said.
The State Department said remaining in UNESCO was not in the national interest, accusing it of having 'a globalist, ideological agenda for international development at odds with our America First foreign policy'.
UNESCO chief Audrey Azoulay said she deeply regretted Trump's decision, but that it was 'expected, and UNESCO has prepared for it'.
The agency had diversified its sources of funding, receiving only about 8% of its budget from Washington, she said.
French President Emmanuel Macron wrote on X: 'Unwavering support for UNESCO, universal protector of science, the ocean, education, culture, and world heritage.'
'The withdrawal of the United States will not weaken our commitment to those who are fighting this battle.'
UNESCO was one of several international bodies Trump withdrew from during his first term, along with the World Health Organization, the Paris Agreement global climate change accord and the U.N. Human Rights Council. During his second term, he has largely reinstated those steps.
UNESCO officials said the U.S. withdrawal would have some limited impact on programs the United States was financing.
Tensions?
Israel welcomed the U.S. decision to quit UNESCO.
The U.S. State Department said one of the reasons for the withdrawal was UNESCO's decision to admit Palestine as a member state, which was 'contrary to U.S. policy and contributed to the proliferation of anti-Israel rhetoric within the organization.'
UNESCO officials said all relevant agency statements had been agreed with both Israel and the Palestinians over the past eight years.
'The reasons put forward by the United States to withdraw from the Organization 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,' Azoulay said.
'These claims also contradict the reality of UNESCO's efforts, particularly in the field of Holocaust education and the fight against antisemitism.'
Diplomats said it was felt at UNESCO that the withdrawal was inevitable for political reasons, given that Biden had brought the U.S. back and had promised to repay arrears from the first time Trump pulled out.
UNESCO, whose full name is the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, 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-U.S. bias, returning in 2003 under President George W. Bush, who said the agency had undertaken needed reforms.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Pakistan says it's close to US trade deal, Washington gives no timeline
Pakistan says it's close to US trade deal, Washington gives no timeline

Business Recorder

time13 minutes ago

  • Business Recorder

Pakistan says it's close to US trade deal, Washington gives no timeline

WASHINGTON: Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said on Friday the United States and Pakistan were 'very close' to a trade deal that could come within days, but comments from the U.S. after Dar met with Secretary of State Marco Rubio mentioned no timeline. 'I think we are very close to finalizing a deal with US. Our teams have been here in Washington, discussing, having virtual meetings and a committee has been tasked by the prime minister to fine-tune now,' Dar said in a discussion at the Atlantic Council think tank in Washington. 'It's not going to be months, not even weeks, I would say (just) days,' he said. Under US President Donald Trump, Washington has attempted to renegotiate trade agreements with many countries that he threatened with tariffs over what he calls unfair trade relations. Many economists dispute Trump's characterization. The US State Department and Pakistan's foreign ministry, in separate statements after Rubio's meeting with Dar, said the two stressed in their discussion the importance of expanding trade and ties in critical minerals and mining. A post by Rubio on X after the meeting and the State Department's statement mentioned no timeline for finalizing a trade deal. The Pakistan foreign ministry also said Dar 'appreciated the pivotal role' by Trump and Rubio 'in de-escalating tensions between Pakistan and India by facilitating a ceasefire.' The State Department statement did not mention India. Trump has repeatedly taken credit for the India-Pakistan ceasefire he announced on social media on May 10 after Washington held talks with both sides. India disputes Trump's claims that the ceasefire resulted from his intervention and trade threats. India's position is that New Delhi and Islamabad must resolve problems directly with no outside involvement.

Pakistan seeks 'stable relationship' with US
Pakistan seeks 'stable relationship' with US

Express Tribune

time3 hours ago

  • Express Tribune

Pakistan seeks 'stable relationship' with US

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Pakistan's Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar meet at the State Department in Washington, DC, signaling a diplomatic reset. PHOTO: REUTERS Listen to article Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar told US Secretary of State Marco Rubio that Pakistan sought "expanded and stable" bilateral relationship with Washington, highlighting "strong convergences" between the two sides on several issues. Dar held talks with Rubio in Washington in a first face-to-face meeting between the two top diplomats at the State Department following their several telephonic conversations. This was the first formal meeting at the level of foreign ministers between Pakistan and the United States after several years as the previous administration under President Joe Biden completely ignored Islamabad. The meeting between Dar and Rubio came against the backdrop of renewed push by the two sides to reset their ties often marred by mistrust. However, contrary to all expectations, under President Trump's second term, the relationship between the two countries took off to a positive start. It was Pakistan's assistance in arresting and extraditing one of the masterminds of Kabul Airport attack in August 2021 that led to the reset in ties with the US. President Trump publicly praised Pakistan's efforts in his first address to the US Congress. The India-Pakistan conflict brought the two countries closer, as Trump repeatedly took credit for brokering the ceasefire between the two South Asian rivals. Then in the middle of the Iran-Israel war, President Trump hosted Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir at the White House in an unprecedented move that raised eyebrows in New Delhi. Following the army chief's luncheon meeting at the White House, there have been increased contacts between the two countries. The meeting in Washington on Friday was seen as Pakistan's push to revive the structured mechanism between the two countries. A statement issued by the Foreign Office said upon arrival at the State Department, Dar was received by senior US officials. Pakistan's Ambassador to the United States, Rizwan Saeed Sheikh, accompanied him during the visit. Senior officials from both sides also joined the delegation-level talks. The discussions focused on bilateral relations and prospects for cooperation across multiple sectors, including trade, investment, agriculture, technology, and minerals. Both sides reviewed progress in the ongoing Pakistan-US trade dialogue, expressing optimism over positive developments. Dar highlighted Pakistan as an attractive destination for US businesses and investors. On regional security, the leaders discussed counterterrorism cooperation and broader peace efforts. Dar lauded President Donald Trump and the US leadership for their efforts to promote global peace, particularly appreciating the President's role amid recent Pakistan-India tensions. Secretary Rubio acknowledged Pakistan's sacrifices in the fight against terrorism and appreciated its positive role in promoting regional and global peace. Later in his message on X, the US secretary of state said: "Met with Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar today to discuss expanding bilateral trade and enhancing collaboration in the critical minerals sector. I also thanked him for Pakistan's partnership in countering terrorism and preserving regional stability." Dar reaffirmed Pakistan's desire for expanded and stable bilateral relations, underscoring that there is a strong convergence of views and shared interests between the two countries on regional peace and stability. He also appreciated the role of the Pakistani-American community as a "bridge" between the two nations. Both leaders reiterated their commitment to further strengthen bilateral ties and enhance institutional cooperation in diverse sectors, expressing determination to work together for long-term stability and prosperity.

Georges Ibrahim released after 40 years in French jail
Georges Ibrahim released after 40 years in French jail

Business Recorder

time4 hours ago

  • Business Recorder

Georges Ibrahim released after 40 years in French jail

LANNEMEZAN, (France): One of France's longest-held inmates, the pro-Palestinian Lebanese militant Georges Ibrahim Abdallah, 74, was released from prison and deported on Friday, after more than 40 years behind bars for the killings of two diplomats. At around 3:40 am (01:40 GMT), a convoy of six vehicles left the Lannemezan penitentiary with lights flashing, AFP journalists saw. Hours later, he was placed on a plane bound for Lebanon. As he disembarked in Beirut, he was welcomed by family members at the airport's VIP lounge. Dozens of supporters, some waving Palestinian or Lebanese Communist Party flags gathered near the arrivals hall to give him a hero's reception, an AFP correspondent said. Abdallah's family had said previously they would take him to their hometown of Kobayat, in northern Lebanon, where a reception is planned. Abdallah was detained in 1984 and sentenced to life in prison in 1987 for his involvement in the murders of US military attache Charles Robert Ray and Israeli diplomat Yacov Barsimantov in Paris. 'Past symbol' The Paris Court of Appeal had ordered his release 'effective July 25' on the condition that he leave French territory and never return. While he had been eligible for release since 1999, his previous requests were denied with the United States — a civil party to the case — consistently opposing him leaving prison. Inmates serving life sentences in France are typically freed after fewer than 30 years. Abdallah's lawyer, Jean-Louis Chalanset, visited for a final time on Thursday. 'He seemed very happy about his upcoming release, even though he knows he is returning to the Middle East in an extremely tough context for Lebanese and Palestinian populations,' Chalanset told AFP. AFP visited Abdallah last week after the court's release decision, accompanying a lawmaker to the detention centre. The founder of the Lebanese Revolutionary Armed Factions (FARL) — a long-disbanded Marxist anti-Israel group — said for more than four decades he had continued to be a 'militant with a struggle'. After his arrest in 1984, French police discovered submachine guns and transceiver stations in one of his Paris apartments. The appeals court in February noted that the FARL 'had not committed a violent action since 1984' and that Abdallah 'today represented a past symbol of the Palestinian struggle'. The appeals judges also found the length of his detention 'disproportionate' to the crimes and given his age.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store